I. PROLOGUE: THE JAPANESE-FILIPINA BEAUTY

In General Santos City, Miuki Chuka “Yuki” Kim stood out. With her distinct Japanese-Filipina features—fair skin and singkit (almond) eyes—she was often chosen as a representative for school pageants. But beyond her beauty, the 21-year-old was a diligent student. She was months away from graduating with a degree in BS Fisheries from Mindanao State University.

She was a dutiful daughter, managing the family’s Small Town Lottery (STL) outlet in front of their home in Barangay Apopong. She was quiet, shy, and rarely went out alone. Her world revolved around her studies and her family. That world was shattered on the night of December 7, 2025.

II. THE DISCOVERY (DECEMBER 8, 2025)

On the morning of December 8, silence hung heavy over the Kim household. Yuki’s mother and stepfather had returned late the previous night from a party. Assuming Yuki was asleep, they went to bed.

But by noon, Yuki still hadn’t come out. Knocks went unanswered. Finally, the parents forced the door open. The Scene: Yuki was lying on her bed, bathed in blood. Her room was ransacked. She had sustained at least five stab wounds, including a deep slash to her neck.

However, the autopsy revealed the ultimate cause of de@th was Asphyxia by Manual Strangulation. She was stabbed, slashed, and choked. Missing items included her personal belongings and Php 10,000 earnings from the STL outlet.

The Clues: Neighbors reported seeing the house lights turn off unusually early that night. They heard dogs barking but dismissed it. There were no CCTV cameras, leaving investigators with zero leads for days.

III. THE BREAKTHROUGH: A DR*G BUST AND A CONFESSION

For five days, the case seemed cold. Then, on December 13, 2025, a separate police operation changed everything. Police conducted a buy-bust operation in Barangay Calumpang and arrested Alias “Aaron” (22). Facing dr*g charges, Aaron dropped a bombshell: He knew who k*lled Yuki Kim.

Aaron’s Confession:

On the night of December 7, he was walking when he met Alias “Inday” (52) and Alias “Oblong” (28).

Both men were residents of Barangay Apopong and known to Yuki’s family.

They invited Aaron for a “raket” (job) to earn money. He agreed, claiming he didn’t know it was a hit.

They went to Yuki’s house. Aaron stayed outside as a lookout.

Inday and Oblong entered. Aaron heard them demanding money.

Yuki refused and threatened to tell her mother.

The Escalation: Alias Oblong allegedly slashed Yuki’s throat and stabbed her. Alias Inday ransacked the room.

The Exit: Before leaving, Inday turned off the main switch (explaining the early darkness neighbors noticed). They fled on a tricycle, Oblong’s clothes stained with blood.

IV. THE ARRESTS AND THE DENIALS

Armed with Aaron’s statement, police launched a manhunt. On the same day (Dec 13), operatives arrested the two prime suspects in separate dr*g stings.

Alias Inday (52): Arrested in Barangay Conel. Found with Php 105,400 worth of shabu and a tricycle.

Alias Oblong (28): Arrested in Purok Roval, Barangay Calumpang.

The Betrayal: The shock for Yuki’s family was immense. These weren’t strangers. They were trusted neighbors. Yuki’s mother often asked them to run errands or bring food to Yuki when she was alone. They knew the layout of the house. They knew when the parents would be away. They knew about the STL money.

The Defense: Alias Oblong vehemently denied the charges. He admitted going to Yuki’s house that night but claimed it was only to deliver chicken feed as ordered by her mother. His family also cried foul regarding his arrest.

They claimed police stormed their home and arrested him in front of his children—contradicting the official police report that he was caught in a buy-bust operation in Calumpang. They accused the police of planting evidence and stealing a cellphone.

V. CASE CLOSED?

Despite the denials and the controversial arrest circumstances, the PNP declared the case “Closed” insofar as suspects were in custody. Charges of Robbery with Homicide were filed.

For the police, the confession of the lookout (Aaron) and the recovery of dr*gs from the suspects painted a clear picture: dr*g addicts desperate for money turned on a defenseless girl.

But for the family of the accused, it reeks of a frame-up to close a high-profile case quickly. And for Yuki’s family, the pain is doubled by the knowledge that the hands that took her life were hands they had once fed.

VI. CONCLUSION: A CHRISTMAS OF MOURNING

The Kim family will welcome 2026 without Yuki. Her graduation gown will never be worn. Her dreams of becoming a fisheries expert are buried with her.

The case highlights the terrifying reality of dr*g-fueled crimes in communities where safety is an illusion, and betrayal comes from those closest to home. Whether the suspects are truly guilty or victims of a flawed system, the tragedy remains: a bright light was extinguished in the darkness of Apopong.