Police look into shooting death of magician’s wife
MANILA, Philippines—A few hours after she surprised her husband with a birthday bash, she surprised him again by putting a bullet in her heart, at least that is what the husband told the police.
The Marikina police are now investigating if foul play was involved in the death of Maricar de Paz, 34, wife of celebrity magician Allan de Paz, popularly known as Alakim.
Alakim, a grand finalist in the popular television show Pilipinas Got Talent Season 1, appears in some of ABS-CBN’s television shows.
Initial police findings showed Maricar shot herself in the right side of her chest at the height of an argument with her husband around 3 a.m. on Tuesday.
It happened while they were inside their Honda CRV parked in front of their house in Lamar Village in Barangay Parang, Marikina City, police said.
The bullet that pierced her heart exited through the window glass at the back of the vehicle.
Alakim drove her to the Marikina Valley Hospital but doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.
Senior Superintendent Gabriel Lopez, Marikina police chief, said Alakim sustained a wound on his hand in his attempt to stop his wife.
“We are waiting for the results of the paraffin test and ballistic exams to check if there are inconsistencies in Allan’s statement,” Lopez said.
He noted that it was unlikely that the woman, who had arranged a surprise birthday party for her husband in Quezon City earlier, would decide to commit suicide afterwards.
“She’s a successful woman working as a manager for St. Luke’s Medical Center. It’s really unlikely,” he said.
According to their friends and relatives, the couple was still happy during the party, Lopez said.
But the argument turned sour when they reached their home. According to Alakim Maricar suddenly searched for the gun at the back seat and then shot herself, Lopez said.
“Perhaps, she had acted on impulse,” Lopez added.
Lopez said Alakim refused to give them details about the couple’s argument but investigators suspected that extreme jealousy prompted it.
The gun used in the shooting was the .38-caliber Super pistol reportedly owned by Alakim.
Lopez noted that Alakim and Maricar both own guns which they used for target shooting.
