In this episode, I delve into the heartbreaking stories of three young women whose lives were cut short by senseless violence.

First, I explore the case of Mitzi Joy Balunsay, a young and promising college student in the Philippines who was murdered in 2017 under harrowing circumstances that continue to haunt her community. I also examine the 2023 murder of Queen Leanne Daguinsin, another vibrant young student whose brutal death revealed unsettling truths about campus safety. Lastly, I recount the case of Jastine Valdez, a Filipina in Ireland whose life was stolen in an abduction that shook two nations and highlighted the need for systemic changes in protecting women.

Through these stories, I examine the failures and biases in community and institutional responses, and I question how society can better protect young women from such tragic fates.

All my sources are here.

Support me:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/juzewoba


LAGIM is on social media, so make sure to check me out:

https://www.instagram.com/lagimpodcast/

https://twitter.com/LagimPod

https://facebook.com/lagimpodcast/

https://www.tiktok.com/@lagimpodcast

Lagim is now also on Threads! Just search for "lagimpodcast".


Subscribe to LAGIM's YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3rFdWCg


Follow, rate and review LAGIM on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:

https://spoti.fi/3qamBxl

https://apple.co/3r3XjzT

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lagim-a-filipino-true-crime-podcast--5701073/support.

In this episode, I feature three cases that all involve the heinous crime of modern slavery and its iterations. This episode is in commemoration of Anti-Slavery Day, which is celebrated yearly on October 18th.

The first case in this episode is from the US and it involves a Filipina who was kept hidden as a slave by her Filipino "employers" for a total of 19 years.

The second case is an Australian case that stunned residents of Sydney in the early 2000s. It involves a young Filipina who was initially hired as a babysitter but was quickly disempowered and enslaved by a Filipino-Australian couple.

The last case is a very recent one that was only concluded at the end of September. It involves a young 22-year-old Filipina who was fraudulently recruited by a Swiss-Filipino couple who promised her a residence permit and an education. Little did she know, she will be made not only a slave but a subject of the Swiss man's sadistic tendencies.

Please listen with care.

Towards the end of this episode, I feature a very informative and eye-opening interview with Marissa Begonia from Voices of Domestic Workers - a UK non-profit that is based in London.

As their website states, VoDW  "is run by and for migrant domestic workers. Our organisation is supported by a Board of Trustees, Volunteers and a small and dedicated staff team.​The Voice of Domestic Workers is an education and support group calling for justice and rights for Britain's sixteen thousand migrant domestic workers."

"We provide support for domestic workers who need to leave abusive employers and in many cases rescue them ourselves.​We find each other emergency accommodations and pool our resources to provide food and clothing. Together we search for ways to overcome our isolation and vulnerability and demand respect as workers, as contributors to the British economy and society, and as human beings.​We provide educational and community activities for domestic workers - including financial and employment advice alongside English language lessons, drama and art classes.​"

My heartfelt thanks goes to Tita Marissa who was very gracious with her time and the rest of the organisation. Please take some time to go through VoDW's website and donate if you can. Please share their link to your socials. More importantly, if you know anyone in the UK or Europe who might be a victim of modern slavery, human trafficking or indentured servitude, make sure to tell them about VoDW. Help is out there.

DONATE to VoDW here.

Sources I used are listed here.

Support me:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/juzewoba


LAGIM is on social media, so make sure to check me out:

https://www.instagram.com/lagimpodcast/

https://twitter.com/LagimPod

https://facebook.com/lagimpodcast/

https://www.tiktok.com/@lagimpodcast

Lagim is now also on Threads! Just search for "lagimpodcast".


Subscribe to LAGIM's YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3rFdWCg


Follow, rate and review LAGIM on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:

https://spoti.fi/3qamBxl

https://apple.co/3r3XjzT

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lagim-a-filipino-true-crime-podcast--5701073/support.

It has been two years since I last covered the case of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his megachurch, The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name.

I cover a lot in this episode, so make sure you take breaks in between. In this episode, I make sure to highlight how Quiboloy went from confident preacher to a church leader in hiding. There are going to be details about the case in the US and the Philippines and how Quiboloy became the straw that broke the camel's back when it came to the Marcos-Duterte alliance.

Sources I used are listed here.

Support me:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/juzewoba


LAGIM is on social media, so make sure to check me out:

https://www.instagram.com/lagimpodcast/

https://twitter.com/LagimPod

https://facebook.com/lagimpodcast/

https://www.tiktok.com/@lagimpodcast

Lagim is now also on Threads! Just search for "lagimpodcast".


Subscribe to LAGIM's YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3rFdWCg


Follow, rate and review LAGIM on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:

https://spoti.fi/3qamBxl

https://apple.co/3r3XjzT

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lagim-a-filipino-true-crime-podcast--5701073/support.

In this episode, I delve into the life and untimely death of the talented Filipino artist Bree Jonson. Known for her evocative, nature-inspired paintings, Bree was on the cusp of further recognition in the art world when tragedy struck. On 18th September 2021, she was found dead in a hotel room in La Union, a popular beach town in the Philippines. Beside her was Julian Ongpin, the son of a wealthy and influential businessman, which immediately added layers of complexity and controversy to the case.

Was it a tragic accident, or is there something more sinister at play? I explore the key facts that I collected when I was blogging about this three years ago. I talk about the mystery surrounding her death, and the fight for justice led by her family and friends. Through witness accounts, legal developments, and reflections on Bree’s artistic legacy, I honour her spirit while seeking to understand the truth behind her untimely demise.

***
Three years on and we are still nowhere near any answers to the many questions in Bree’s Death. Justice also remains elusive. I am going to keep re-releasing this episode for as long as this podcast exists.

I ask that you help me in making Bree's name appear in algorithms and mentions again. Say her name and keep her case in the media.

Thank you.

Sources list for this episode is here.

Support me:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/juzewoba

LAGIM is on social media, so make sure to check me out:

https://www.instagram.com/lagimpodcast/

https://twitter.com/LagimPod

https://facebook.com/lagimpodcast/

https://www.tiktok.com/@lagimpodcast

Lagim is now also on Threads! Just search for "lagimpodcast".

Subscribe to LAGIM's YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3rFdWCg

Follow, rate and review LAGIM on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:

https://spoti.fi/3qamBxl

https://apple.co/3r3XjzT

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lagim-a-filipino-true-crime-podcast--5701073/support.

In this episode, I dive into one of the most chilling and brutal crimes in Manila's history. On August 26, 1963, a violent robbery at the RCA Building on Canonigo Street shocked the city, leaving five security guards dead and others narrowly escaping with their lives.

Armed with an axe found on the scene and a twisted plan, the gang of perpetrators pulled off a staggering heist, but the real twist lies in who was behind it all. Tune in and listen to the details of this gruesome crime, the investigation that followed, and how justice was ultimately served.

A BIG thank you to my fellow podcaster and friend, Earl, who is Camp Master over at the Philippine Campfire Stories Podcast. Make sure to listen to Earl's wonderfully scary and spooky stories, available on all podcasting platforms. Follow Earl on Instagram @campfirestoriesph. Daghang salamat, Earl!

Sources I used are listed here.

Support me:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/juzewoba


LAGIM is on social media, so make sure to check me out:

https://www.instagram.com/lagimpodcast/

https://twitter.com/LagimPod

https://facebook.com/lagimpodcast/

https://www.tiktok.com/@lagimpodcast

Lagim is now also on Threads! Just search for "lagimpodcast".


Subscribe to LAGIM's YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3rFdWCg


Follow, rate and review LAGIM on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:

https://spoti.fi/3qamBxl

https://apple.co/3r3XjzT

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lagim-a-filipino-true-crime-podcast--5701073/support.

In this episode, I explore the mysterious and tragic death of Steven Alston Davis, a British national found dead in his Makati apartment in 2002. What seemed like an ordinary crime turned into a shocking revelation of betrayal and deceit. Who was responsible for this heinous act, and what were the true motives behind it?

Join me as I piece together the events leading up to that fateful night, uncovering secrets that would leave even the most seasoned investigators stunned.

Tune in to hear the full story and unravel the truth behind one of the Philippines' most disturbing cases.

A big thank you to my lovely friend, Stephanie, who lent me her voice, speaking in episode as Margaret Davis. Stephanie is a native of Liverpool but she masterfully created a general Northern English accent for the purpose of the cameo. Stephanie and I went to the University of Liverpool together. Whilst I slaved away in law school, she was knee-deep in German and Irish literature and cultural studies. What got us together 17 years ago was our love of musical theatre! Thank you again, Steph. Love ya!

My heartfelt thanks also goes to the ethereal, beautiful and sweet-voiced, Nikki Breedveld, who you might know as Miss Universe PH Taguig 2023. Nikki has been super supportive throughout all this and I cannot thank her enough. She is beauty and brains, being not only a pageant queen and model but also a lawyer and mental health advocate. If you wanna follow her, catch her over on Instagram @nikkibreedveld.

My sources list can be seen here.

Support me:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/juzewoba


LAGIM is on social media, so make sure to check me out:

https://www.instagram.com/lagimpodcast/

https://twitter.com/LagimPod

https://facebook.com/lagimpodcast/

https://www.tiktok.com/@lagimpodcast

Lagim is now also on Threads! Just search for "lagimpodcast".


Subscribe to LAGIM's YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3rFdWCg


Follow, rate and review LAGIM on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:

https://spoti.fi/3qamBxl

https://apple.co/3r3XjzT


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lagim-a-filipino-true-crime-podcast--5701073/support.

In September 1995, Felipe and Evelyn Pestaño were anticipating the return of their son Philip who was working on board the BRP Bacolod. Their son was a young cargo officer in the Philippine Navy. What was supposed to be a heartwarming welcome turned into a bitter and tragic realisation that Philip had apparently died on board the navy ship under very suspicious circumstances. What followed were years of agony, legal battles and disappointment after disappointment for the Pestaño family.

Listen now to learn more about this case.

***LagimFam, this is the season finale for season 4. Tomorrow, August 31st, the season opener for Season 5 will be dropped, so keep an eye out for that.

My sources list can be seen here.

Support me:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/juzewoba


LAGIM is on social media, so make sure to check me out:

https://www.instagram.com/lagimpodcast/

https://twitter.com/LagimPod

https://facebook.com/lagimpodcast/

https://www.tiktok.com/@lagimpodcast

Lagim is now also on Threads! Just search for "lagimpodcast".


Subscribe to LAGIM's YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3rFdWCg


Follow, rate and review LAGIM on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:

https://spoti.fi/3qamBxl

https://apple.co/3r3XjzT

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lagim-a-filipino-true-crime-podcast--5701073/support.

Mabuhay, LagimFam!

Welcome to the first ever episode of Lagim: After Hours, a semi-regular bonus content series that I am embedding in the regular feed as well as on my YouTube feed.

The episodes are mainly a more freestyle vodcast but I have extracted the audio for the podcat-only audience in case you do not want to watch a video.

There are not a lot of SFX, bits and bobs, we just dive right into the topic and case and see where it leads us.

After Hours will cover smaller cases, cases that are still rather new and developing, cases that do not have lots of info on them in order to make a whole podcast episode out of.

I am also trying to be better with my video editing skills and with uploading other stuff on YouTube, so let us see where this goes.

Our first ever episode focuses on beauty pageant queen Catherine Camilon who recently went missing. As of the time of recording and uploading, she is still missing but there are at least 2 suspects who are currently identified and further 2 who remain unknown, at least to us, the public.

List of sources is here.

Support me:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/juzewoba


LAGIM is on social media, so make sure to check me out:

https://www.instagram.com/lagimpodcast/

https://twitter.com/LagimPod

https://facebook.com/lagimpodcast/

https://www.tiktok.com/@lagimpodcast

Lagim is now also on Threads! Just search for "lagimpodcast".


Subscribe to LAGIM's YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3rFdWCg


Follow, rate and review LAGIM on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:

https://spoti.fi/3qamBxl

https://apple.co/3r3XjzT

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lagim-a-filipino-true-crime-podcast--5701073/support.

On the 2nd August 2023, Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar and his friend, Sonny Boy, planned a fishing trip to earn a couple of bucks. The boys set out to first clean their boats before sailing out but as they were minding their business, a group of police officers approached their area in Navotas and opened fire.

Sonny Boy saw his friend fall into the water, only to never surface alive anymore. Another young soul taken by the very authorities tasked to protect and serve Filipinos.

Jemboy's killing ignited discussions around the culture of corruption, violence and impunity within the PNP and how after Duterte's war on drugs, killings of unarmed, mostly poor Filipinos continue. Despite showing themselves as remorseful and willing to prioritise Jemboy's case, cracks would soon be seen that would expose how the police would always protect their own first instead of taking responsibility for their crimes.

Listen now to learn more about this case.

List of sources is here:

Support me:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/juzewoba


LAGIM is on social media, so make sure to check me out:

https://www.instagram.com/lagimpodcast/

https://twitter.com/LagimPod

https://facebook.com/lagimpodcast/

https://www.tiktok.com/@lagimpodcast

Lagim is now also on Threads! Just search for "lagimpodcast".


Subscribe to LAGIM's YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3rFdWCg


Follow, rate and review LAGIM on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:

https://spoti.fi/3qamBxl

https://apple.co/3r3XjzT

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lagim-a-filipino-true-crime-podcast--5701073/support.

Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs have long been dubbed as the Philippines' modern-day heroes. They leave family and friends, their comfort zones, their culture and homes behing to try their luck in foreign and far-flung countries, hoping to earn a better living than from the few opportunities offered back home.

In July 2022, Jullebee Cabilis Ranara, a native of Las Piñas decided to try her luck again in Kuwait after a successful stint in Bahrain some years before. In the early days of her stay with her Kuwaiti employer, there had already been signs that Jullebee may not have been entirely safe. Six months later, she would be found dead in a desert and the way she was found sent shockwaves through Kuwait and the Philippines alike.

But here is the thing...Jullebee was not the first and only one who was murdered in Kuwait. She was, in a way, the culmination of a series of deaths that would ultimately make Filipinos question their own government and whether it really was capable of keeping OFWs safe abroad.

Jullebee's story is also the story of Joanna Demafelis, Constancia Lago Dayag and Jeanelyn Villavende. Listen now to learn about all of their stories.

List of sources is here:

Support me:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/juzewoba


LAGIM is on social media, so make sure to check me out:

https://www.instagram.com/lagimpodcast/

https://twitter.com/LagimPod

https://facebook.com/lagimpodcast/

https://www.tiktok.com/@lagimpodcast

Lagim is now also on Threads! Just search for "lagimpodcast".


Subscribe to LAGIM's YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3rFdWCg


Follow, rate and review LAGIM on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:

https://spoti.fi/3qamBxl

https://apple.co/3r3XjzT



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lagim-a-filipino-true-crime-podcast--5701073/support.

On the 4th March, a group of armed men in military gear entered the residence of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo. What looked to be a normal Saturday of meeting his constituents suddenly turned into a nightmare that his family is still living to this very day.

In a matter of days, it became apparent that the killing of Degamo was not just an unfortunate incident. Signs and evidence point at a greater conspiracy to eliminate the governor who may have stood in the way of another family's political ambitions.

Listen now to learn more about this story.


Link to sources is here.

Support me:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/juzewoba


LAGIM is on social media, so make sure to check me out:

https://www.instagram.com/lagimpodcast/

https://twitter.com/LagimPod

https://facebook.com/lagimpodcast/

https://www.tiktok.com/@lagimpodcast

Lagim is now also on Threads! Just search for "lagimpodcast".


Subscribe to LAGIM's YouTube channel:

https://bit.ly/3rFdWCg


Follow, rate and review LAGIM on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:

https://spoti.fi/3qamBxl

https://apple.co/3r3XjzT

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lagim-a-filipino-true-crime-podcast--5701073/support.