Suspect in killing of Charice Pempengco's father arrested

Dubai: Police have arrested a suspect in the killing of Ricky Pempengco, father of international pop star Charice, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday.

Angel Capili was arrested hours after he reportedly attacked Pempengco after an altercation in Laguna province on Monday, the PNP said.

Pempengco, 39, died of stab wounds in his back and chest, said Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. The suspect reportedly used a 12-inch ice pick during the attack.

San Pedro police chief Senior Superintendent Kirby Kraft told Radyo Inquirer 990AM that personal grudge was seen as motive in the killing.

Capili was a resident of Barangay Laram in San Pedro Laguna where Pempengco’s father lived, the Inquirer reported. He moved out of the village five years ago, but returned for a visit on Monday.

Capili reportedly attacked Pempengco on Monday night when he was ignored during his visit. Police records show that Capili and Pempengco had a fight in 2005.

Concerts cancelled

Meanwhile, Charice has cancelled her Singapore concerts with David Foster scheduled for November 2 and 3. She arrived in Manila on Tuesday night.

“I am very sorry to all my fans from Singapore. I am not going to be there to be part of [the] David Foster and Friends concert. I have to go back to the Philippines as soon as possible to be with my family. I hope you all understand. I love you all and I will see you next year,” Charice said in her Twitter post. 


Charice got angry at her father’s relatives, for their apparent harsh words which she read online.

Warning them, Pempengco said, “For my father’s siblings, who are you to tell me that I am happy for the death of my own father?. You have no right to second guess what I feel. You are just his siblings. I am his daughter!”

“If you remember, you told us (in the past) to avoid our daddy. You even prevented us from using his family name. (In contrast) my mommy never prevented us from visiting our daddy. But you stopped us. You had no respect for his family. Instead of mending his relationship with us, you destroyed it,” said Pempengco.

“I know that I was once angry at him. But I never said that I gave him up. For a long time,” said Pempengco, adding, “I remained silent and I did not respond to your scandalous attitude (towards us). But now, I could not help but react to your allegations that we are happy now that he’s dead. You have not changed. I am not afraid of you.”

Charice rose to international fame through performances posted on YouTube, eventually appearing on major US television shows such as the Ellen DeGeneres Show, the Oprah Winfrey Show and the musical series Glee.

With inputs from Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief