Two Tragedies, One Month: When Trust and Innocence Lead to Death

In the early days of the new year, two separate tragedies shook the tranquility of several communities in Mindanao. Different places, different families, but the same pain was left behind. Events that not only caused death, but completely destroyed relationships that were expected to last a lifetime.

In Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, a crime occurred that shocked even those accustomed to news of violence. A brother died at the hands of his own blood. This was not a clash between enemies, this was not a dispute between rivals, but a relationship that was expected to never end like this.

The Dumalasa family is known in Purok Presko, Barangay Datagan as quiet and simple. Maribeth and Roniel Senior built a home that was not luxurious, but full of dreams for their eight children. Despite their lack of resources, they forged their family with hard work, faith, and unity.

The second son, Roniel Junior, twenty-one years old, is known to be hardworking and willing to help the family. His next brother, Niel, eighteen years old, is quiet and avoids vices. They are almost the same age so they are often considered friends, not just brothers.

The siblings grew up together on the farm, with the crops and livestock that provided their family with sustenance. No luxury, no city noise, just a peaceful life that was enough for them. In the photos of them together, you can see smiles that seem to be free of anger or hatred.

But according to their father, there were changes noticed in Roniel Junior when he learned to drink alcohol. When he drank, he became naughty and difficult to discipline. Despite this, it did not reach the point of a serious conflict between the brothers. There was no sign that it would end in a tragedy that would ruin everyone.

A few months before the incident, the brothers had temporarily separated. Niel helped his grandfather in Barangay Nanganangan, Tigbao, while Roniel Junior stayed behind in Datagan and worked at a chicken farm. The physical distance seemed to temporarily distance them, but the family never imagined that this would be the beginning of their last reunion.

On New Year’s Eve, Maribeth asked Niel to come home so they could celebrate the new year together. A mother’s simple wish to complete her family, even without any preparations or fireworks. A wish she never imagined would end up in the most painful memory of her life.

Niel arrived in Barangay Datagan with excitement and joy. The whole family was there to welcome the new year. There was no grand celebration, but there was silence and unity. In everyone’s eyes, it was an ordinary day full of gratitude.

The next day, Roniel Senior and Roniel Junior went out drinking. By noon, the son was noticeably drunk. The father stopped drinking and left the son to rest. But instead of going home, Roniel Junior went to the chicken coop where Niel was.

The next few minutes were quiet to the eyes of others, but they were filled with an unspoken tension. A silence that would end with an irrevocable decision.

In that chicken coop, away from the eyes of others, the two brothers faced each other again. According to the collected accounts, Roniel Junior even offered Niel a drink. But instead of a calm conversation, it ended in shouting, breaking glasses, and words that were painful to hear. Niel knew this behavior of his older brother when he was drunk, so he chose to remain silent and avoid confrontation.

But that silence was not a sign of forgiveness. In those moments, anger slowly built up in Niel’s heart. Anger that he had been harboring for a long time, anger that no one noticed, and anger that finally exploded at the wrong moment.

After a while, Roniel Junior climbed the mango tree near the chicken coop and lay down on a board that served as a resting place. Due to fatigue and intoxication, he immediately fell asleep. At that time, he was unaware that that would be the last time he would close his eyes.

Niel silently followed his older brother. No shouting, no asking for help. Instead, he grabbed a stick. According to authorities, he carefully and slowly climbed the tree. There he committed the crime that shook not only their family but also the entire community.

Roniel Junior, who lay there, had no chance to defend himself. In that very place, under the tree that had once witnessed their childhood, he was also killed. The blood that dripped onto the ground seemed to symbolize a family that had completely fallen apart.

The scene became even more intense when their seventeen-year-old sister arrived and witnessed the incident. The intensity of what she saw made her scream in fear. But instead of asking for help, Niel allegedly threatened her not to tell their mother until he had left.

Niel quickly returned to their house, gathered his belongings, and said goodbye to his mother. No details were shared, only the farewell that he would return to Tigbao first. Not long after, he left by car for a trip of about an hour.

It was only a few moments later when the crying brother arrived from the chicken coop. There, the truth was revealed that a mother is never ready to hear. In an instant, Maribeth’s world collapsed. Together with her husband, she ran towards the place where her son was.

What they found was a sight that would never be erased from their memories. Roniel Junior was no longer alive. They did not even try to take him to the hospital. Instead, they immediately informed the authorities about what had happened. In those moments, the question that kept recurring in a mother’s mind was where she had gone wrong.

The police conducted a hot pursuit operation and immediately tracked down Niel in Barangay Nanganangan, Tigbao. At the request of his grandfather, he surrendered and was brought to the precinct to face the case filed against him. Meanwhile, the body of Roniel Junior was brought to the funeral home while the family is seeking assistance for burial expenses.

Despite everything, the parents admitted that they hesitated to file a case against their son who committed the murder. For them, two are already lost. But according to authorities, such a crime cannot be ignored, not only for the sake of justice but also to prevent a repetition of such a tragedy.

While the wounds of the Dumalasa family are still healing, another horrific incident has shaken another part of Mindanao. In Polomolok, South Cotabato, a young girl was found dead in the middle of a pineapple plantation. A new wound at the beginning of the year that once again reminded us of how cruel reality is.

Charlene Mahinay Bernaldez, fifteen years old, is a resident of Barangay Landan. She is the eldest of three siblings. Happy, simple, and known for being close to her mother, Mary Joy. At a young age, Mary Joy became both mother and father to her children, struggling to support the family by working as a pineapple harvester.

Although Charlene never finished school and only went to elementary school, her mother still hopes that one day her daughter’s life will change. She never imagined that the place where she worked would also be the place of the most painful farewell.

On the morning of January 13, everything seemed normal in the home of mother and daughter Mary Joy and Charlene. The mother got ready early to go to work. Before leaving, she even told her daughter not to leave the house. Charlene even managed to take a selfie while talking to her mother, a simple scene that now serves as a painful memory.

Later that afternoon, Charlene said goodbye to some relatives who said they were going to a swimming pool with friends. She didn’t have many things with her, so no one suspected anything. But according to some information that later emerged, a man on a motorcycle picked her up. A detail that was insignificant at the time, but now is an important piece of the puzzle.

When Mary Joy got home from work, her daughter was gone. She wasn’t immediately worried, because this wasn’t the first time Charlene had stayed up late. But as the night wore on and her calls and messages remained unanswered, a sense of dread slowly crept into her chest.

The whole night and the next day passed without any news of Charlene. In desperation, Mary Joy decided to ask for help through social media. Several people provided information, including a report that Charlene was seen riding a motorcycle on the afternoon of her disappearance.

While the family still had hope that the girl would be safe, bad news arrived on January 15. A pineapple plantation employee discovered a body in the middle of a vast plot of land in Barangay Maligo, Polomolok. At first glance, they thought it was a mannequin, until they realized it was a corpse.

The victim was not wearing pants, only underwear remained. A detail that raised suspicions that a rape had occurred before she was killed. When Mary Joy was called to identify the body, she tried to hold on to the hope that it was not her daughter.

But the moment she saw the outfit, the slippers, and the details that only a mother could recognize, her world completely collapsed. In front of her eldest child’s body, Mary Joy could no longer hold back her tears. A scene that even brought tears to the eyes of the responding authorities.

Police immediately conducted an investigation. At the crime scene, several pieces of evidence were recovered, including the presence of biological materials on the victim’s body and underwear. Leggings believed to have been worn by Charlene before she disappeared were also found, as well as a jersey that may be related to the perpetrator.

Based on initial examination, Charlene had severe head injuries, as well as scratches and abrasions on various parts of her body. Signs indicating a fierce struggle before she finally lost her life. Although the official autopsy results are still awaited, it appears that the crime scene was found at the scene.

The investigation also revealed that Charlene and her ex-boyfriend Anya had a previous dispute, sparked by intense jealousy. This was one of the angles that authorities looked into. However, this was not the only direction the investigation followed.

With the help of witnesses, the man driving the motorcycle Charlene was riding was identified. Later, it emerged that there was another person of interest. The two were cousins, both from the victim’s barangay. They were invited to the precinct and subjected to thorough questioning.

Although both denied involvement, police noticed wounds and scratches on one of them that he could not properly explain. In addition, there were witnesses who said that the suspects were seen drinking with Charlene before she disappeared.

Another important detail is the jersey found near the crime scene. According to barangay officials, the surname written on it matches the surname of one of the suspects. Despite the defenses and speculation, authorities continue to confirm the case against them.

The two suspects are currently in police custody and a homicide case is being prepared. If forensic results confirm rape, the case could be upgraded to more serious charges.

Ultimately, two tragedies left deep scars at the beginning of the year. Two families torn apart by violence and wrong decisions. Events that serve as painful reminders that trust, once broken, and innocent life, once lost, can never be restored.

Behind these stories are parents left with unanswered questions, and dreams that ended before they even began. A new year that should have been full of hope, but instead opened with tears and heartbreak.