The Christmas season in Cebu was violently interrupted on December 28, 2024, when a horrific assault unfolded inside a modern jeepney in Lapu-Lapu City.

Carmela Lantot Mamac (34), a call center receptionist and dedicated mother of two, was viciously attacked, causing her loss of life in a public space.

The brutality of the assault, combined with the collateral de@th of a second victim, shocked the nation and exposed the deadly threat posed by unchecked obsession.

The Assault in Public View

Carmela, known for her striking beauty, gentle eyes, and kind nature, was a beloved sister and daughter who sacrificed everything to provide for her children.

After separating from her husband, Gelson Mamac (a security guard), in 2022, Carmela balanced her career with motherhood, earning her the title of “The Best Mom” from her children.

On the night of the crime, Carmela boarded a modern jeepney at the Parkmall Terminal in Mandaue City and took a seat next to the driver.

As she settled in, she spotted a male passenger boarding the jeepney and immediately warned the driver not to allow him on, identifying the man as her estranged, intoxicated husband.

Despite her warning, the man managed to board, sitting directly behind her.

As the jeepney traversed the Mactan Circumferential Road, the assailant suddenly reached forward, grabbed Carmela’s he@d, and assaulted her repeatedly in the neck using a bladed or pointed weapon.

The sudden, brutal attack sent the jeepney’s passengers into a terrified panic. People screamed and scrambled to escape the moving vehicle.

In the ensuing chaos, a second victim, 53-year-old lady guard Eva Villarial, was tragically pushed out of the moving jeepney, suffering catastrophic blunt force trauma to her chest and ribs. She was pronounced de@d on arrival at the hospital.

The assailant, walking away calmly from the scene, left Carmela bleeding profusely in the front seat, succumbing to her injuries.

The Exonerated Husband

Based on the driver’s statement—that Carmela had identified the attacker as her husband—the Lapu-Lapu City Police immediately launched a hot pursuit operation for the ex-husband, Gelson Mamac.

Police located Gelson sleeping in his quarters at a private school in Mandaue City. He calmly cooperated, vehemently denying the accusations, stating he had been at his Christmas party and had passed out drunk in his quarters.

The crucial evidence was quickly verified: Gelson’s coworkers and CCTV footage confirmed his alibi, proving he was at work when the crime occurred.

The reason for the initial false identification soon became clear: the true assailant bore a strong physical resemblance to Gelson Mamac.

A significant hurdle emerged in the investigation, however: the CCTV camera and dashcam inside the modern jeepney were both broken, hindering any clear visual identification of the attacker.

The Motive of Stalking

Police Lieutenant Colonel Christian Torres, spokesman for the Lapu-Lapu City Police, confirmed that the investigation had shifted focus to a new person of interest: an ex-boyfriend of Carmela.

A close coworker and friend of Carmela testified that she had broken up with the man in February 2024, but he had been relentlessly stalking and threatening her ever since.

Investigators, accessing Carmela’s cellphone data, found photographs of the man and message exchanges confirming the relationship and the threats. Crucially, the man was photographed wearing clothing identical to that worn by the assailant.

The police are now searching for the jealous ex-boyfriend, intending to file serious criminal charges, including the aggravated homicide of both Carmela Mamac and the collateral victim, Eva Villarial.

Carmela was laid to rest in Talisay Cemetery in January 2025. Her family, grieving her brutal passing, now pushes for justice, ensuring that the true perpetrator is held accountable for the loss of both lives.