I. THE BACKGROUND AND THE FATAL CONFLICT

There are times when a marriage faces challenges, which should ideally be resolved together by husband and wife.

But what happens when one of them suddenly grows weary of the relationship? Who would have thought that former affection would be replaced by hatred and rage? That is the essence of our story today.

On August 21, 2022, news broke of a shocking CCTV-captured assault in an apartel in Taguig. A man went on a rampage, unleashing continuous projectile weapon fire in Barangay Fort Bonifacio, tragically ending three lives.

One of the victims was the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), Marie Angelica Belina (25), originally from Calapan City, Mindoro. Angelica, who studied at Divine World College of Calapan, had worked various jobs in Japan, including supermarket work and onion packing.

Angelica, a single mother with one child from a previous relationship, eventually met Julian “Jimboy” Pining, Jr. (28). Jimboy was a Philippine Navy soldier who joined the service in 2016 and hailed from Pangasinan.

Angelica and Jimboy entered into a relationship, had a child together, and lived in Angelica’s family home. However, their relationship was unstable, and they eventually separated.

The two other victims of the assault were identified as Mark Ian Desquitado, a Grab driver who was supposed to take Angelica to the airport for her flight to Japan, and T. Shane Joshua Branzuela, a student. Mark and Joshua resided in Barangay Fort Bonifacio.

Initial police investigation suggested Love Triangle and Crime of Passion as potential motives for the assault.

II. THE AWOL SOLDIER’S SACRIFICE AND THE BETRAYAL

On September 1, 2022, the suspect, Jimboy, surrendered on Senator Raffy Tulfo’s public program, accompanied by his father, Julian. Jimboy provided his statement regarding the criminal act.

He claimed he committed the act because of his ex-girlfriend, Angelica, stating he endured immense disrespect and abuse from her. Jimboy claimed Angelica trampled on his dignity as a man and showed him no respect.

He asserted he loved Angelica wholeheartedly and provided for all her needs. However, Angelica eventually forced Jimboy to choose between her and his military job.

According to Jimboy, Angelica demanded he stay in Mindoro, where she lived, because she wanted him constantly by her side. Driven by his love, Jimboy obeyed and decided to abandon his military career.

Jimboy went AWOL (Absent Without Leave) and stopped reporting for duty, sacrificing his profession to fulfill Angelica’s demands. Angelica convinced him he could find work in Mindoro, perhaps applying as an aide to the local Mayor, or starting a business.

Jimboy opened a paresan (beef stew stall) business in Mindoro. Despite his sacrifice, Jimboy claimed the price Angelica demanded was infidelity and deceit.

Jimboy claimed that even while they were together, Angelica maintained contact with her ex-boyfriend (the father of her first child). He alleged Angelica and her ex were planning to meet secretly, which enraged Jimboy, leading him to physically confront and assault the ex-boyfriend.

He claimed Angelica’s entire family was aware of this situation but did nothing to stop Angelica. Jimboy further claimed Angelica became pregnant, expecting twins, and he sent money for her expenses.

However, he alleged Angelica, with the collusion of her mother and sister, terminated the pregnancy without his knowledge. Later, Angelica suddenly left Jimboy.

Jimboy claimed he heard from Angelica’s family that he never contributed financially while living in their house, a claim Jimboy refuted, stating he sold many of his belongings to support Angelica and their child. He also claimed he supported Angelica’s vices, including bingo and casino gambling, even after they had separated.

Jimboy learned that Angelica’s parents had coerced her into leaving him.

III. THE TAGUIG RAMPAGE AND THE VICTIM FAMILIES’ GRIEF

On August 21, 2022, Angelica and Jimboy met to talk. Jimboy wanted to hear Angelica’s reason for leaving and demanded an apology, but Angelica only laughed, offering no explanation.

After they ate, Jimboy drove Angelica to her temporary residence (transient house) in Taguig. Jimboy realized he had forgotten something and called Angelica to deliver Php3,000 intended for their child—money he claimed his new girlfriend had given him.

Near Angelica’s residence, Jimboy saw the three victims—Angelica, Joshua, and Mark—talking. Jimboy claimed his vision blurred (nagdilim ang paningin), as the painful memories of Angelica’s betrayals flooded back.

He claimed Angelica’s behavior had not changed, as she was now seeing Joshua while still having a boyfriend in Mindoro. Jimboy then discharged his weapon at Joshua.

CCTV footage showed Angelica managing to enter the transient house, but Jimboy pursued her and also shot her. Angelica’s mother, Aida Belina, spoke on the program, expressing immense pain.

She claimed they treated Jimboy like a son when he lived with them. The mother of Mark, Laur, was devastated, noting that Jimboy and Mark were childhood friends.

She questioned Jimboy why he involved Mark, leaving five children orphaned. Joshua’s mother, Lin, expressed her profound grief, stating Jimboy had ended her son’s dreams.

Lin refuted Jimboy’s claim that Joshua and Angelica were romantically involved at the time of the crime. She clarified that Joshua and Angelica had dated before Angelica met Jimboy, labeling Jimboy’s act as cruel and heartless.

IV. THE ARREST, THE LIES, AND THE OPEN CASES

Jimboy’s father, Julian, a former Navy soldier, accompanied his son to the program. Julian revealed that armed police had repeatedly visited their house in Pangasinan looking for Jimboy.

Jimboy insisted on surrendering only through Senator Raffy Tulfo’s program. Julian admitted he was angry when Jimboy gave his car to Angelica, which she allegedly pawned for money for her trip to Japan.

Julian was shocked that his son committed an act of violence, causing the loss of life of three people. Senator Tulfo’s program provided Php500,000 in assistance to each of the three victims’ families.

The Taguig police were present to arrest Jimboy. In addition to the murder charges, Jimboy had four outstanding warrants: three for carnapping and one for robbery.

Jimboy confessed to all the theft charges, claiming he stole the first car in 2019 as revenge against an officer who failed to provide his leave balance pay. He claimed he gave the proceeds to Angelica.

Jimboy shockingly stated he had no regrets about ending Angelica’s life and was ready for life confinement. Julian encouraged Jimboy to follow all rules and pray to God, believing clarification and peace would eventually come.

Jimboy was taken to the Taguig City police headquarters and later transferred to Manila City Jail. He expressed his apologies to the victims’ families, admitting that a simple “sorry” was insufficient but promising to pay for his actions.

In November 2022, news emerged that Jimboy was also considered the mastermind of a kidnapping case in Cavite, even while confined. One victim claimed Jimboy was their contact regarding a land purchase before they were kidnapped.

Angelica’s mother, Aida, later admitted she had initially kept silent about Joshua, who she now claimed was Angelica’s boyfriend before Jimboy. Aida regretted not forcing Angelica to leave Jimboy sooner, refuting Jimboy’s claim that Angelica gambled, stating Jimboy introduced her daughter to those vices.

The family now prays for justice for Angelica, Mark, and Joshua. Jimboy’s case is currently ongoing, with no final verdict delivered for the murder charges.