The quiet suburban life of General Trias, Cavite, was violently disrupted in 2017 by a crime that shocked the nation.

Two defenseless victims—a mother and her young daughter—were found lifeless inside their home, victims of an act so brutal that it defied comprehension.

The suspect, who claimed to deeply love the mother and child, was driven by a toxic jealousy that resulted in the complete devastation of their family.

The Shocking Discovery

On December 11, 2017, police in General Trias received a report that led them to an apartment in Kensington Subdivision.

Inside, they found the bodies of 34-year-old Ruby Binalay Gamos and her six-year-old daughter, Shania Nicole Gamos, in an advanced stage of decomposition. The victims had been de@d for approximately three days.

The tragedy was immediately compounded by the absence of the family patriarch, Marlon Gamos, a seaman working overseas.

Initial investigation focused on robbery, as valuables including a TV, cellphones, jewelry, and the family’s red Toyota Wigo were missing. The car was later found abandoned in Imus, Cavite, used as the killer’s getaway vehicle.

However, the scene contained specific evidence pointing away from a random robbery: a pair of men’s slippers, a male urine sample in the restroom, and male seminal fluid found on the bedsheets.

Crucially, there was no sign of forced entry, and the family dogs had not alerted neighbors—suggesting the victims knew their assailant.

The Secret Life Unveiled

Marlon Gamos, the father, had last spoken to his wife and daughter on December 7. When days passed with no response, he contacted his sister, Karen Gamos, who visited the apartment and discovered the horrific scene after having security personnel force the door open.

Autopsy results were devastating: Ruby died from traumatic he@d injury with suffocation (compression/strangulation). Shania Nicole died from asphyxia by suffocation (an object, likely a pillow, used over her he@d).

The police and NBI quickly launched a parallel investigation. Through social media, they discovered the shocking existence of Ruby’s secret lover: Roel Galvan Cabatingan (36).

Roel, a childhood sweetheart of Ruby’s, was also a former boyfriend and a kababayan (townmate) of Marlon. Pictures and messages on Roel’s profile (under the alias “Leter Robiel”) confirmed their clandestine relationship.

Further investigation revealed the depth of their affair: Roel and Ruby had previously shared a rented apartment in Imus, Cavite, from January to June 2017. Roel’s social media posts even suggested guilt, with captions like: “I’m ready to pay for all my sins. I’m sorry Mommy and Anak.”

Jealousy and the Unforgivable Act

The motive was quickly suspected to be intense jealousy. Roel, who claimed to be isolated and psychologically distressed by being hidden from the world by Ruby, was enraged by an even greater threat:

Marlon Gamos, the husband, was planning to return to the Philippines shortly to renew his marriage vows with Ruby in a church ceremony, which would have permanently ended Roel’s role in her life.

Facing the loss of his secret lover, Roel’s rage turned lethal.

On December 28, 2017, following a widespread manhunt, Roel Cabatingan voluntarily surrendered to police in Samar, accompanied by his brother.

In his extrajudicial confession, Roel admitted that on the night of December 8, 2017, while Marlon was still at sea, he was at the home with Ruby and Shania Nicole.

He admitted to strangling Ruby while she was lying face-down. When the six-year-old Shania Nicole woke up and recognized him, Roel smothered the defenseless child with a pillow, causing her passing.

He then stole the valuables, used the family car as his getaway vehicle, and drove to Samar before deciding to surrender. He claimed depression and feeling suffocated by the secrecy of their affair.

However, police emphasized that the motive was rooted in intense jealousy over Marlon’s impending return.

Roel was formally charged with two counts of homicide (later upgraded to murder) and committed to the Regional Trial Court.

The Final Forgiveness

Marlon Gamos, the grieving father and husband, spoke publicly, stating that while he was heartbroken over his wife’s betrayal, he chose to forgive Ruby’s sins, recognizing that she was human and made mistakes.

However, he vowed unwavering dedication to ensuring that Roel Cabatingan would face the full weight of the law for the horrific de@th of his wife and daughter.

Roel, in his confession, repeatedly claimed that he loved the mother and child, a statement that rings hollow when weighed against the brutality of his crime. The murder of the innocent child, Shania Nicole, who was simply suffocated because she recognized the killer, remains the most devastating part of the tragedy.