Suspects in Slovak rape-slay charged

ILOILO CITY — Authorities have filed formal charges of rape with homicide against four suspects in connection with the brutal killing of Slovak tourist Michaela Mickova in Boracay Island, the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) confirmed.

The charges were filed on May 30, 2025, more than two months after Mickova's decomposing body was found inside an abandoned chapel.

APPO chief public information officer Cpt. Aubrey Ayon said all four suspects are residents of Aklan province. However, she declined to provide further details, such as the suspects' ages, whether they lived on the island or if they had prior criminal records.

Ayon said forensic evidence collection was particularly challenging due to the remote location of the place the victim's remains were found.

Ayon, however, said that Boracay Island remains a safe place for local and international tourists, pointing out that the death of Mickova is an isolated case.

"Although there is a foreigner involved, this is an isolated case," she said.

"Generally, there is no effect on the tourism industry of Boracay. If we look at the data, the tourist arrivals from the month the incident happened increased compared to last year," she added.

Mickova's body was found in a state of decomposition in an abandoned chapel in Barangay Balabag on March 12, 2025.

Mickova arrived in Boracay on March 1 to attend a friend's wedding. She traveled to Boracay alone after her Egyptian boyfriend was denied entry into the country. She was reported missing by her Filipina friend on March 10.

An autopsy report cited evidence of recent sexual abuse and blunt force trauma to the head, which was ruled as the cause of death.

Mickova also sustained multiple injuries across her face, abdomen, arms and legs, indicating a violent struggle. Her lower garments were missing, and her wallet and mobile phone were also gone, suggesting a possible robbery.