In this episode of Lagim: A Filipino True Crime Podcast, we examine the harrowing case of Ana Abulaban, a Filipina mother whose life was cut short in a brutal double murder in San Diego. Her husband, Ali Abulaban—known online as TikTok personality “JinnKid”—was charged with her killing, along with the murder of a male friend she was with. We explore Ana’s background, her efforts to escape an increasingly toxic and abusive marriage, and how social media fame often hides the darker realities behin...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 13
In this special episode of LAGIM: A Filipino True Crime Podcast, I delve into a case that, at first glance, seems to have no ties to the Philippines. But dig a little deeper, and an unexpected connection begins to surface. Lisa Marie Young was a vibrant, young Indigenous woman from Nanaimo, British Columbia. She was on the brink of major life changes when she vanished without a trace just before Canada Day in 2002. More than two decades later, no one has been arrested or held accountable for her...
May 01, 2025•56 min•Season 5Ep. 12
In this episode, I revisit two OFW stories that profoundly shaped how I understand many of the themes we often explore on this podcast. The cases of Flor Contemplacion and Sarah Balabagan — two Filipina domestic workers whose names became symbols of injustice, sacrifice, and national reckoning in the 1990s — shook the Philippines and made global headlines. Their stories exposed the harsh realities faced by many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and the ways systemic failure, diplomacy, and publi...
Apr 17, 2025•46 min•Season 5Ep. 11
LagimFam, in this instalment of the Martial Law Series, I have a double feature. Firstly, I feature the case of the Manili Massacre, one of the many Marcos-era massacres that was perpetrated against the Bangsamoro People. This part of the podcast is heavy with historical context in order to undertand the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination better and trauma left by not only the Manili Massacre but all the atrocities inflicted on Muslim Filipinos. In the second part of the episode, I talk ...
Apr 04, 2025•56 min•Season 5Ep. 10
As the Philippines is getting ready to vote again, another favourite political hot-button topic is being whipped out to get the masses riled up and divided. The death penalty is a favourite talking point by politicians who wish to project a strong-man position towards their voters who are rightfully tired of crimes happening in the country. But as studies have shown time and time again, the death penalty does not deter crime as addressing crime is all about looking at its root causes and address...
Mar 21, 2025•55 min•Season 5Ep. 9
For this International Women's Month, I talk about the case of January Marie Lapuz. In September 2012, January, a vibrant and beloved Filipina transwoman, was brutally stabbed in her Vancouver home. Her killer fled the scene, sparking a two-month manhunt and exposing the systemic failures that leave marginalized communities vulnerable in Canada. January’s story is one of resilience, love, and tragedy—a Filipina immigrant who found community and purpose in Canada, only to have her life cut short ...
Mar 07, 2025•42 min•Season 5Ep. 8
In this episode, I thoroughly examine the case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino domestic worker who was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 for smuggling heroin—a crime she insists she was duped into committing by human traffickers. Sentenced to death, her case has been a long and painful journey marked by her family’s tireless fight, the support of allies and advocates, and political complexities that spanned three Philippine presidencies. I highlight how Mary Jane’s case was politicised to her detrim...
Dec 08, 2024•1 hr 40 min•Season 5Ep. 7
In this episode, I delve into the heartbreaking stories of three young women whose lives were cut short by senseless violence. First, I explore the case of Mitzi Joy Balunsay, a young and promising college student in the Philippines who was murdered in 2017 under harrowing circumstances that continue to haunt her community. I also examine the 2023 murder of Queen Leanne Daguinsin, another vibrant young student whose brutal death revealed unsettling truths about campus safety. Lastly, I recount t...
Nov 14, 2024•49 min•Season 5Ep. 6
In this episode, I feature three cases that all involve the heinous crime of modern slavery and its iterations. This episode is in commemoration of Anti-Slavery Day , which is celebrated yearly on October 18th. The first case in this episode is from the US and it involves a Filipina who was kept hidden as a slave by her Filipino "employers" for a total of 19 years. The second case is an Australian case that stunned residents of Sydney in the early 2000s. It involves a young Filipina who was init...
Oct 19, 2024•1 hr 49 min•Season 5Ep. 5
It has been two years since I last covered the case of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his megachurch, The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name. I cover a lot in this episode, so make sure you take breaks in between. In this episode, I make sure to highlight how Quiboloy went from confident preacher to a church leader in hiding. There are going to be details about the case in the US and the Philippines and how Quiboloy became the straw that broke the camel's back when it came to the Mar...
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 48 min•Season 5Ep. 4
In this episode, I delve into the life and untimely death of the talented Filipino artist Bree Jonson. Known for her evocative, nature-inspired paintings, Bree was on the cusp of further recognition in the art world when tragedy struck. On 18th September 2021, she was found dead in a hotel room in La Union, a popular beach town in the Philippines. Beside her was Julian Ongpin, the son of a wealthy and influential businessman, which immediately added layers of complexity and controversy to the ca...
Sep 17, 2024•1 hr 37 min•Season 5Ep. 3
In this episode, I dive into one of the most chilling and brutal crimes in Manila's history. On August 26, 1963, a violent robbery at the RCA Building on Canonigo Street shocked the city, leaving five security guards dead and others narrowly escaping with their lives. Armed with an axe found on the scene and a twisted plan, the gang of perpetrators pulled off a staggering heist, but the real twist lies in who was behind it all. Tune in and listen to the details of this gruesome crime, the invest...
Sep 12, 2024•39 min•Season 5Ep. 2
In this episode, I explore the mysterious and tragic death of Steven Alston Davis, a British national found dead in his Makati apartment in 2002. What seemed like an ordinary crime turned into a shocking revelation of betrayal and deceit. Who was responsible for this heinous act, and what were the true motives behind it? Join me as I piece together the events leading up to that fateful night, uncovering secrets that would leave even the most seasoned investigators stunned. Tune in to hear the fu...
Aug 30, 2024•54 min•Season 5Ep. 1
In September 1995, Felipe and Evelyn Pestaño were anticipating the return of their son Philip who was working on board the BRP Bacolod. Their son was a young cargo officer in the Philippine Navy. What was supposed to be a heartwarming welcome turned into a bitter and tragic realisation that Philip had apparently died on board the navy ship under very suspicious circumstances. What followed were years of agony, legal battles and disappointment after disappointment for the Pestaño family. Listen n...
Aug 29, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 20
Mabuhay, LagimFam! Welcome to the first ever episode of Lagim: After Hours, a semi-regular bonus content series that I am embedding in the regular feed as well as on my YouTube feed. The episodes are mainly a more freestyle vodcast but I have extracted the audio for the podcat-only audience in case you do not want to watch a video. There are not a lot of SFX, bits and bobs, we just dive right into the topic and case and see where it leads us. After Hours will cover smaller cases, cases that are ...
Dec 29, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 19
On the 2nd August 2023, Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar and his friend, Sonny Boy, planned a fishing trip to earn a couple of bucks. The boys set out to first clean their boats before sailing out but as they were minding their business, a group of police officers approached their area in Navotas and opened fire. Sonny Boy saw his friend fall into the water, only to never surface alive anymore. Another young soul taken by the very authorities tasked to protect and serve Filipinos. Jemboy's killing ignite...
Dec 22, 2023•51 min•Season 4Ep. 18
Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs have long been dubbed as the Philippines' modern-day heroes. They leave family and friends, their comfort zones, their culture and homes behing to try their luck in foreign and far-flung countries, hoping to earn a better living than from the few opportunities offered back home. In July 2022, Jullebee Cabilis Ranara, a native of Las Piñas decided to try her luck again in Kuwait after a successful stint in Bahrain some years before. In the early days of her stay ...
Oct 27, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 17
On the 4th March, a group of armed men in military gear entered the residence of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo. What looked to be a normal Saturday of meeting his constituents suddenly turned into a nightmare that his family is still living to this very day. In a matter of days, it became apparent that the killing of Degamo was not just an unfortunate incident. Signs and evidence point at a greater conspiracy to eliminate the governor who may have stood in the way of another family's poli...
Oct 13, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 4Ep. 16
Hi LagimFam! I am releasing this episode a week earlier as it is my birthday weekend and I want to fully be in the moment for the next weekend and the next couple of weeks as I go travelling again. So today, I am presenting the story of Blessie Gotingco, a Filipino expat in New Zealand who in 2014 met a cruel fate at the hands of someone who was not completely unknown to the authorities. This was a heartbreaking one for me to cover because at the very core of this case is the fact that this crim...
Sep 22, 2023•42 min•Season 4Ep. 15
Two years after her death, justice for Filipino artist Bree Jonson remains elusive. This is frustrating, heartbreaking and a stark reminder that the wheels of the justice system in our country are so slow and so hindered by power, influence and wealth that it might as well be stationary at this point. I decided to re-release this to help the case in some small way, to have people care more or care again, to get her name out again because her family deserves closure and we, as Filipinos, need to ...
Sep 18, 2023•1 hr 38 min•Season 4Ep. 14
Hi LagimFam! This is the last instalment of the Martial Law Series for this season. In this episode, I look into the incredible life of Maria Lorena Barros, a remarkable Filipina activist and the founder of MAKIBAKA. From her early years to her pivotal role in the face of Martial Law, Lorena's story is a testament to the power of conviction and resilience. Join me as I honour her legacy and explore the impact of her tireless dedication to justice and equality. The link to my sources are here . S...
Sep 15, 2023•26 min•Season 4Ep. 13
Hi LagimFam! I am finally back and with me is this season's first instalment of The Martial Law Series. In this episode, I delve into a somber chapter of Philippine history as we explore the Escalante Massacre of 1985. Join me as I give a brief history of sugar and as I uncover the events leading up to that fateful day in the town of Escalante, Negros Occidental, and the tragic consequences that unfolded. I briefly discuss the political climate of the time, the plight of sugar workers and activi...
Sep 01, 2023•41 min•Season 4Ep. 12
In this Pride Month episode, I cover two cases involving a trans woman and a trans man, respectively. I talk about Jessa Remiendo from Pangasinan and Ebeng Mayor from Quezon City. I want to issue one of many trigger warnings at this point as some of the details in these cases are truly upsetting. *** For the past two years or so, I have refused to cover cases of our fellow Filipinos within the LGBTQIA community during this month because I thought I'd be doing more harm than good. But in the wake...
Jun 24, 2023•42 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Mabuhay, LagimFam. This week, come dive with me into an international case that has echoed globally - the Mitsero Killings, involving Cyprus' first recognized serial killer. In this episode, I narrate the chilling events in the serene village of Mitsero in Cyprus. I cover the 2019 discovery of the bodies of several women and children, all foreign workers and their dependents, concealed in suitcases in a toxic lake. I honour the victims' lives cut short and scrutinise the societal conditions that...
May 28, 2023•50 min•Season 4Ep. 9
On 11th October 2011, some residents of Brgy Putho-Tuntungin in Los Baños, Laguna woke up to a horrible discovery in one of their canals. It was the body of a young woman who seemed to have been murdered only a few hours before. This discovery would send shockwaves all throughout the municipality of Los Baños, best known for the University of Los Baños, a top state university that sits in an open campus, embedded in the local community. Listen to this episode now to learn more about Given Grace ...
Apr 27, 2023•41 min•Season 4Ep. 8
In September 2017, a family was left waiting and then reeling when reports emerged that their son has died as a result of hazing. A once brilliant light in his family's life, Atio's star was extinguished so prematurely after going through the intiation rites of teh Aegis Juris Fraternity, a fraternity based and supported by the University of Santo Tomas Law School. Atio's death sparked media outrage and a burning desire within his parents to end the system tha killed their son. Listen now to thi...
Apr 11, 2023•50 min•Season 4Ep. 7
It was 2021 and most of the world was still in the tight grip of the COVID-19 pandemic that started the year before. Countries had implemented strict lockdowns. Life as we knew it came to a grinding halt and we were being bombarded by daily updates of COVID deaths, as if it was just a part of our lives then. It was therefore all the more jarring when news out of the UK talked of a missing Filipina and her young daughter. The news stood out. It was not COVID-related but, as it turned out, it was ...
Mar 19, 2023•51 min•Season 4Ep. 6
In 2006, two UP Diliman students and an elderly farmer from Hagonoy, Bulacan were forcibly taken, abducted and illegally detained in secret military facilities as a part of a crackdown on activists suspected of supporting the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the NPA or National People's Army. The three desaparecidos' case would come to highlight a deeply corrupt military system, propped by the government at the time and a wildly obtuse way at looking at left-leaning activi...
Feb 07, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 4Ep. 5
In October 1994, friends of Emelita Villa Reeves woke up, not having heard from their friend for over 24 hours. The last moments they had with her were worrying. Emelita always answered or returned calls and page notifications, so why was she not doing this now? When people finally paid attention to Emelita's disappearance, they would uncover a history that seemed to show a disturbing pattern of behaviour. But not by Emelita. Listen now to learn more. The sources list is here. Support me: https:...
Jan 19, 2023•42 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Hello LagimFam! Finally, I back on the podcast saddle and can continue with Season 4. Today's episode covers a case from 1964 - a case that would become notorious for the largest inter-agency investigation conducted at that time. At the centre of this case are two families from Quezon City and Guagua, Pampanga. What started out as a seemingly crime of opportunity would eventually unfold as so much more than that. Sources list: https://lagimpodcast.podcastpage.io/blog/the-case-of-cosette-tanjuaqu...
Jan 06, 2023•45 min•Season 4Ep. 3
