Just Another Case of Political Violence: The Assassination of Congressman Rodel Batocabe (2018)

On July 16, 1990, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the island of Luzon. It was one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the Philippines in the 20th century. Within seconds, buildings collapsed, roads broke apart, and entire cities were cut off from one another. More than two thousand people would lose their lives, and over a million others would be affected.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at [email protected] WITH US▸ https://linktr.ee/phmurderstoriesHere are links to our social media accounts, case photos, episode notes, and sources!YOUTUBE▸ www.youtube.com/phmurderstories DISCORD SERVER▸ https://bit.ly/3n38Tuh IG CHANNEL▸ https://ig.me/j/AbaOmN2HytgKay0F/ SUPPORT OUR SHOW ON PATREON▸ www.patreon.com/phmurderstories   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On March 17, 1957, the Philippines awoke to devastating news. A plane had crashed on the dark slopes of Mount Manunggal in Cebu, leaving behind fiery wreckage and lifeless bodies.Among the dead was the beloved President of the Philippines, Ramon Magsaysay. Only one man out of the 26 on board survived. The nation, still basking in the hope and optimism brought by Magsaysay’s leadership, was thrown into mourning overnight.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at [email protected] a good game of BingoPlus! — the first online poker casino in the Philippines. Licensed by Pagcor. Get it at Google Play and App Store, or visit www.bingoplus.com. Gaming is for 21-year-olds and above only. Gambling can be addictive know when to stop.CONNECT WITH US▸ https://linktr.ee/phmurderstoriesHere are links to our social media accounts, case photos, episode notes, and sources!YOUTUBE▸ www.youtube.com/phmurderstories DISCORD SERVER▸ https://bit.ly/3n38Tuh IG CHANNEL▸ https://ig.me/j/AbaOmN2HytgKay0F/ SUPPORT OUR SHOW ON PATREON▸ www.patreon.com/phmurderstories   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the night of August 16, 2017, in a crowded neighborhood in Caloocan City, Metro Manila, gunfire pierced the air. Hours later, the lifeless body of a 17-year-old boy was discovered in a dark alley near the Tullahan River.The victim’s name was Kian Lloyd delos Santos—a student, a joker among friends, and a teenager who once dreamed of becoming a police officer.His death would become one of the most defining moments in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs—a campaign that had already claimed thousands of lives but had rarely held perpetrators accountable.This is the story of Kian, the police officers who killed him, the investigation that followed, and what his case reveals about one of the most brutal chapters in the Duterte administration.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at [email protected] a good game of BingoPlus! — the first online poker casino in the Philippines. Licensed by Pagcor. Get it at Google Play and App Store, or visit www.bingoplus.com. Gaming is for 21-year-olds and above only. Gambling can be addictive know when to stop.CONNECT WITH US▸ https://linktr.ee/phmurderstoriesHere are links to our social media accounts, case photos, episode notes, and sources!YOUTUBE▸ www.youtube.com/phmurderstories DISCORD SERVER▸ https://bit.ly/3n38Tuh IG CHANNEL▸ https://ig.me/j/AbaOmN2HytgKay0F/ SUPPORT OUR SHOW ON PATREON▸ www.patreon.com/phmurderstories   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On November 27, 1970, history was unfolding as Pope Paul VI became the first pontiff to set foot on Philippine soil. A three-day pastoral visit had just begun, greeted by the full spectacle of state and church. President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda Marcos led the welcome, while thousands of faithful braved the Manila heat for a glimpse of the Holy Father.Then, in an instant, celebration turned to chaos. A man wearing a priest’s robe broke through the crowd and lunged at the Pope with a concealed blade. His target was clear—the pontiff himself.The Vatican would later call the Pope’s survival “a miracle.” The assailant described his act as a strike against hypocrisy. For the Philippines, it became an unforgettable moment etched in living memory.CONNECT WITH US▸ https://linktr.ee/phmurderstoriesHere are links to our social media accounts, case photos, episode notes, and sources!YOUTUBE▸ www.youtube.com/phmurderstories DISCORD SERVER▸ https://bit.ly/3n38Tuh IG CHANNEL▸ https://ig.me/j/AbaOmN2HytgKay0F/ SUPPORT OUR SHOW ON PATREON▸ www.patreon.com/phmurderstories  For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at [email protected] a good game of BingoPlus! — the first online poker casino in the Philippines. Licensed by Pagcor. Get it at Google Play and App Store, or visit www.bingoplus.com. Gaming is for 21-year-olds and above only. Gambling can be addictive know when to stop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In June 2008, an ABS-CBN news team had just arrived in the quiet town of Maimbung, Sulu, determined to land an exclusive story from the leaders of the infamous Abu Sayyaf Group.At the time, Abu Sayyaf was one of the most feared armed groups in the Philippines—known for kidnappings, bombings, and ties to terrorism. Getting a sit-down with its leaders would have been a huge scoop, offering rare insight into their motives and operations.At the center of it all was Cecilia Victoria “Ces” Oreña-Drilon, a seasoned broadcast journalist admired for her bravery and instinct for powerful stories. On June 8, 2008, Ces, her crew, and Mindanao State University professor Octavio Dinampo entered the tense and unpredictable terrain of Jolo—unaware that they were about to be part of one of the most terrifying moments in Philippine media history.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at [email protected] a good game of BingoPlus! — the first online poker casino in the Philippines. Licensed by Pagcor. Get it at Google Play and App Store, or visit www.bingoplus.com. Gaming is for 21-year-olds and above only. Gambling can be addictive know when to stop.CONNECT WITH US▸ https://linktr.ee/phmurderstoriesHere are links to our social media accounts, case photos, episode notes, and sources!YOUTUBE▸ www.youtube.com/phmurderstories DISCORD SERVER▸ https://bit.ly/3n38Tuh IG CHANNEL▸ https://ig.me/j/AbaOmN2HytgKay0F/ SUPPORT OUR SHOW ON PATREON▸ www.patreon.com/phmurderstories   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bishop Benjamin de Jesus—known for his kindness and fearless work in one of the country’s most dangerous regions—was gunned down in cold blood in the morning of February 4, 1997, at Jolo, Sulu. Witnesses say two men walked right up to him and opened fire at close range, hitting him in the head, face, neck, shoulder, and stomach. He died instantly.Investigators quickly pointed to members of the Abu Sayyaf group—or other armed militants operating in the area—as the likely culprits. But in a place where politics, religion, and violence were tangled together, finding the real masterminds would prove far more complicated.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at [email protected] a good game of BingoPlus! — the first online poker casino in the Philippines. Licensed by Pagcor. Get it at Google Play and App Store, or visit www.bingoplus.com. Gaming is for 21-year-olds and above only. Gambling can be addictive know when to stop.CONNECT WITH US▸ https://linktr.ee/phmurderstoriesHere are links to our social media accounts, case photos, episode notes, and sources!YOUTUBE▸ www.youtube.com/phmurderstories DISCORD SERVER▸ https://bit.ly/3n38Tuh IG CHANNEL▸ https://ig.me/j/AbaOmN2HytgKay0F/ SUPPORT OUR SHOW ON PATREON▸ www.patreon.com/phmurderstories   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was just three days before Christmas in Daraga, Albay. In a covered court filled with laughter, gifts, and the chatter of elderly citizens, the mood was one of celebration. But in an instant, the holiday spirit shattered. Gunfire. Panic. Blood on the court floor. And the shocking realization that one of the Philippines’ most active lawmakers — Congressman Rodel Batocabe — had been assassinated in broad daylight.This was no random act of violence. This was a hit. Carefully planned. Coldly executed. For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at [email protected] a good game of BingoPlus! — the first online poker casino in the Philippines. Licensed by Pagcor. Get it at Google Play and App Store, or visit www.bingoplus.com. Gaming is for 21-year-olds and above only. Gambling can be addictive know when to stop.CONNECT WITH US▸ https://linktr.ee/phmurderstoriesHere are links to our social media accounts, case photos, episode notes, and sources!YOUTUBE▸ www.youtube.com/phmurderstories DISCORD SERVER▸ https://bit.ly/3n38Tuh IG CHANNEL▸ https://ig.me/j/AbaOmN2HytgKay0F/ SUPPORT OUR SHOW ON PATREON▸ www.patreon.com/phmurderstories   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever been “349ed”? Have you heard of this Filipino slang before? Its origin story was due to a marketing blunder—one that would be the deadliest in history.  Pepsi launched “Number Fever” in 1992, a lottery game that a lot of Filipinos hoped to win because it was a chance to become a millionaire. The correct 3-digit number combination on their Pepsi bottle cap would be the financial miracle to their woes. However, Pepsi mistakenly printed 800,000 winning caps, leading to lawsuits, riots, and deaths. For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at [email protected] a good game of BingoPlus! — the first online poker casino in the Philippines. Licensed by Pagcor. Get it at Google Play and App Store, or visit www.bingoplus.com. Gaming is for 21-year-olds and above only. Gambling can be addictive know when to stop.CONNECT WITH US▸ https://linktr.ee/phmurderstoriesHere are links to our social media accounts, case photos, episode notes, and sources!YOUTUBE▸ www.youtube.com/phmurderstories DISCORD SERVER▸ https://bit.ly/3n38Tuh IG CHANNEL▸ https://ig.me/j/AbaOmN2HytgKay0F/ SUPPORT OUR SHOW ON PATREON▸ www.patreon.com/phmurderstories   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Philippine cinema, few names shine as brightly as Nida Blanca’s. She was elegance, charm, and talent personified — a beloved actress whose career spanned decades. But on the morning of November 7, 2001, the nation woke up to news that shattered the glamour of showbiz, at least during this time. Nida Blanca was found dead, and the circumstances were brutal.Enjoy a good game of BingoPlus! — the first online poker casino in the Philippines. Licensed by Pagcor. Get it at Google Play and App Store, or visit www.bingoplus.com. Gaming is for 21-year-olds and above only. Gambling can be addictive know when to stop.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at [email protected] WITH US▸ https://linktr.ee/phmurderstoriesHere are links to our social media accounts, case photos, episode notes, and sources!YOUTUBE▸ www.youtube.com/phmurderstories DISCORD SERVER▸ https://bit.ly/3n38Tuh IG CHANNEL▸ https://ig.me/j/AbaOmN2HytgKay0F/ SUPPORT OUR SHOW ON PATREON▸ www.patreon.com/phmurderstories   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was supposed to be an ordinary trip. Just another bus making its way through the winding roads of the town of Hamtic, province of Antique. But on the afternoon of December 5th, 2023, what began as routine ended in devastation. Seventeen lives were lost. Families were torn apart. And a small stretch of road, long feared by locals, claimed yet more victims.This is the story of the Antique bus crash—a tragedy that reveals more than a single moment of mechanical failure. It’s a story about dangerous roads, the high cost of neglect, and a community demanding answers.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at [email protected] WITH US▸ https://linktr.ee/phmurderstoriesHere are links to our social media accounts, case photos, episode notes, and sources!YOUTUBE▸ www.youtube.com/phmurderstories DISCORD SERVER▸ https://bit.ly/3n38Tuh IG CHANNEL▸ https://ig.me/j/AbaOmN2HytgKay0F/ SUPPORT OUR SHOW ON PATREON▸ www.patreon.com/phmurderstories   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.