PH Murder Stories

On July 16, 1990, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the island of Luzon. It was one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the Philippines in the 20th century.  Within seconds, buildings collapsed, roads broke apart, and entire cities were cut off from one another.  More than two thousand people would lose their lives, and over a million others would be affected. For any collaboration, bran...

On March 17, 1957, the Philippines awoke to devastating news. A plane had crashed on the dark slopes of Mount Manunggal in Cebu, leaving behind fiery wreckage and lifeless bodies. Among the dead was the beloved President of the Philippines, Ramon Magsaysay. Only one man out of the 26 on board survived.  The nation, still basking in the hope and optimism brought by Magsaysay’s leadership, was...

On the night of August 16, 2017, in a crowded neighborhood in Caloocan City, Metro Manila, gunfire pierced the air.  Hours later, the lifeless body of a 17-year-old boy was discovered in a dark alley near the Tullahan River. The victim’s name was Kian Lloyd delos Santos—a student, a joker among friends, and a teenager who once dreamed of becoming a police officer. His death would become one o...

On November 27, 1970, history was unfolding as Pope Paul VI became the first pontiff to set foot on Philippine soil.  A three-day pastoral visit had just begun, greeted by the full spectacle of state and church. President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda Marcos led the welcome, while thousands of faithful braved the Manila heat for a glimpse of the Holy Father. Then, in an instant, cele...

In June 2008, an ABS-CBN news team had just arrived in the quiet town of Maimbung, Sulu, determined to land an exclusive story from the leaders of the infamous Abu Sayyaf Group. At the time, Abu Sayyaf was one of the most feared armed groups in the Philippines—known for kidnappings, bombings, and ties to terrorism. Getting a sit-down with its leaders would have been a huge scoop, offering rare ins...

Bishop Benjamin de Jesus—known for his kindness and fearless work in one of the country’s most dangerous regions—was gunned down in cold blood in the morning of February 4, 1997, at Jolo, Sulu.  Witnesses say two men walked right up to him and opened fire at close range, hitting him in the head, face, neck, shoulder, and stomach. He died instantly. Investigators quickly pointed to members of...

It was just three days before Christmas in Daraga, Albay.  In a covered court filled with laughter, gifts, and the chatter of elderly citizens, the mood was one of celebration.  But in an instant, the holiday spirit shattered. Gunfire. Panic. Blood on the court floor.  And the shocking realization that one of the Philippines’ most active lawmakers — Congressman Rodel Batocabe — had...

Have you ever been “349ed”? Have you heard of this Filipino slang before? Its origin story was due to a marketing blunder—one that would be the deadliest in history.   Pepsi launched “Number Fever” in 1992, a lottery game that a lot of Filipinos hoped to win because it was a chance to become a millionaire.  The correct 3-digit number combination on their Pepsi bottle cap would be th...

In Philippine cinema, few names shine as brightly as Nida Blanca’s.  She was elegance, charm, and talent personified — a beloved actress whose career spanned decades.  But on the morning of November 7, 2001, the nation woke up to news that shattered the glamour of showbiz, at least during this time. Nida Blanca was found dead, and the circumstances were brutal. For any collaboration, bra...

It was supposed to be an ordinary trip. Just another bus making its way through the winding roads of the town of Hamtic, province of Antique.  But on the afternoon of December 5th, 2023, what began as routine ended in devastation.  Seventeen lives were lost. Families were torn apart. And a small stretch of road, long feared by locals, claimed yet more victims. This is the story of the An...

In 2018, Paul Le Roux, a white Zimbabwean who held South African and Australian passports, was a notorious crime lord who illegally trafficked drugs, gold, and guns.  He testified in a U.S. court about having murdered numerous people by professional assassins, including a Filipina real estate agent killed in 2012.  Six years earlier from his testimony, Le Roux was arrested by the Drug En...

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a lot of difficulties worldwide. Aside from health reasons, financial and political instability is probably another impactful obstacle that the global health crisis has affected us throughout its existence.  This led to increased crime rates, especially theft, robbery, online scams, and other related offenses. Several gruesome crimes happened during these try...

On April 22, 2025, a shocking report about the massacre of seven people in a bakery in Barangay Cupang, Antipolo City, went viral nationwide.  Among the seven victims of this gruesome crime, five were aged between 21 and 25 years old, while two were minors. The lone suspect, on the other hand, was quick to surrender. Residents and neighbors were deeply disturbed by the brutal nature of the ki...

In 1987, the story of Rosario Baluyot's abuse and torture at the hands of an Austrian physician sparked outrage all over the country. She lived in Olongapo, or what was known as "Sin City" back then, due to rampant prostitution in the area. It was on October 10, 1986, when Austrian physician, Heinrich Stefan Ritter, brought Rosario Baluyot and Jessie Ramirez, another child, to a hotel room in Olon...

On March 12, 2025, the peaceful island of Boracay, known for its crystal-clear waters and stunning beaches, became the setting for a chilling discovery.  The body of 23-year-old Slovak tourist Michaela Mickova was found decomposing in an abandoned chapel in Barangay Balabag. Further reports have shown that the victim was also sexually assaulted and died due to blunt-force trauma to the head....

On July 10, 2024, the Lake Hotel in Tagaytay became the center of a horrifying discovery. The lifeless bodies of Australian nationals David Fisk, 57, and his wife, Lucita Cortez, 55, along with her daughter-in-law, Mary Jane Cortez, 30, were found in their hotel room.  Their hands and feet were bound, and their faces were covered with packaging tape—a scene that sent shockwaves nationwide.&nb...

On July 7, 2018, Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan was traveling in a black Toyota Hilux when gunmen inside a black sports utility vehicle fired gunshots, killing the Vice Mayor on the spot.  Meanwhile, witnesses also saw another black Toyota Hilux following the black SUV, which authorities claim could possibly be the getaway vehicle of the suspects,  The brutal attack occurred around 3 pm in fron...

On August 30, 2024, 36-year-old Chatty Timbang was admitted to the emergency room of a public hospital in Dasmariñas City, Cavite. Her mother, Conchita Timbang, accompanied her. At 3:10 AM, an assassin managed to reach Chatty’s hospital bed.  Upon spotting his target, the killer pulled out his gun and fired several close-range shots, killing Chatty instantly.  Conchita, who had been slee...

In the Philippine context, parricide refers to the crime of killing one's own parent, ascendant grandparent or great-grandparent, or other close relatives such as a child, spouse, or sibling, as specified under the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines. Specifically, Article 246 of the RPC defines parricide as the unlawful killing of a father, mother, child, or any of the direct descendants or asc...

Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanuan Batangas was a well-known figure back in the day for his "walk of shame" campaign, where he paraded drug suspects through the streets, a method that garnered both support and criticism nationwide, which critics would argue that it violated human rights and due process. Some have compared him to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s hardline stance against crime.  B...

A  49-year-old Filipina’s death in Burnaby, Canada sent shockwaves among the Filipinos in her community as she was killed by two young men aged 21 years old and 15 years old.  Her burned remains would be discovered in Greentree Village Park, near a children’s playground.  Her family, friends, and the rest of her community have been in mourning since her violent death. “She did not d...

As of recording this episode, the filing of candidacies for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections has concluded, which means it is election season all over again in the Philippines.  With that being said, throughout the course of our country’s history various political events that have led to violence and killings have occurred. One of the most infamous incidents that changed the course of our...

Before the coronavirus disease affected our daily lives, the month of April was the most exciting month for those students who will finish their studies from a long school journey, as it was a time when students graduated from their respective levels.  On April 8, 2019, the brutal killing of a 14-year-old girl happened near Cogon Cruz Integrated School, Danao City in Cebu.  An unidentifi...

The upcoming 2025 midterm elections are near, which means the future of our leaders will be based on our votes this coming May.  Through the years, there have been various incidents or initiatives from well-known or infamous politicians that broke or paved the way for their careers in public service. On April 23, 2012, a supposedly peaceful dismantling of a wet market quickly escalated into v...

Sagay City, located in the northern part of the province of Negros Occidental, is a significant hub for agriculture resources, where its local community is deeply connected.  Historically, Sagay has been a major player in the sugar industry, which is a significant economic driver in the province. However, despite economic gains from the sugar plantations in Sagay, most of its farmers and plan...