On what should have been an ordinary evening filled with youthful laughter and dreams of the future, the lives of two young lovers from Calbayog City, Samar were cut short in a way too cruel for words. The discovery of their lifeless bodies shocked the community and left families, friends, and neighbors demanding justice for the tragedy that shattered two promising lives.

The victims were identified as 23-year-old Roan Jallen Lamparas, a beloved teacher at Calbayog City National High School, and her boyfriend, 20-year-old Jade Andrei Bestudio, a third-year mechanical engineering student at Northwestern Samar State University.

Roan, the eldest in her family, was described by her mother as kind, cheerful, and deeply loving toward her parents and siblings. Though she once dreamed of becoming a police officer, she heeded her mother’s worries about the risks and instead pursued a degree in education. She achieved her dream of teaching, inspiring young minds with her dedication.

Jade, on the other hand, was the third child of Teresita and Claudio Bestudio. He was a kindhearted son and friend, a hardworking student who dreamed of one day becoming an engineer. Though younger than Roan by three years, their relationship blossomed beautifully after meeting in June 2020. What started as friendship turned into a deep love that was wholeheartedly supported by their families.

Their bond was genuine—Roan was embraced by Jade’s family as one of their own, and Jade was treated like a son by Roan’s parents. The young couple envisioned a bright future together, but fate took a dark turn on the night of June 13, 2022.

That day began like any other. Roan woke up late, tired from the night before, but insisted on going to school. Later that evening, she sent her mother pictures of herself and her co-teachers while dining out, assuring her that she’d be home late. Unknown to everyone, those images would be the last they’d ever see of her alive.

By midnight, worry gripped their families. Calls went unanswered, and their phones had gone silent. The following day, the unimaginable happened.

Jade’s body was discovered first, dumped along a roadside canal in Barangay Policarpio. He had a gunshot wound to the head, his personal belongings and motorcycle missing. His mother recalled the heartbreaking detail that tears were still visible at the corner of his eyes, suggesting the horror and fear he endured in his final moments.

Hours later, another call reached the police. A woman’s body had been found in Barangay Bagacay, nearly eight kilometers away. When police showed Roan’s mother a photo of a shoe left near the victim, her cries confirmed what she feared—it was her daughter. Roan’s fate was even more harrowing. She had not only been robbed and shot but also subjected to sexual assault before being left in a secluded, grassy area.

The brutality of the crime sparked outrage across Calbayog City and beyond. Social media filled with grief and anger. Schools, fraternities, and community groups organized marches and motorcades demanding justice for the slain couple.

Police wasted no time in tracking down the suspects. Through CCTV footage and witness testimonies, investigators identified three men seen with Roan that night. In the days that followed, arrests were made. Two suspects, Jericho Pajardo and Glen Bakulpo—both with prior warrants for theft—were captured. A firearm recovered from Glen would later link him to the crime scene.

The breakthrough, however, came when a 15-year-old suspect, known only as “Janjan,” surrendered to authorities alongside his mother. Wracked with guilt and fear, he revealed the chilling details of the crime.

According to his confession, he, Jericho, and Glen encountered the couple that night along the diversion road. Glen brandished a gun and declared a holdup. Although Jade pleaded for their lives, recognizing the men as fellow residents of their city, Glen shot him without hesitation. Roan, terrified and begging for mercy, was taken by the men. She lost consciousness after being struck, then was later assaulted before being shot dead.

Evidence gathered by investigators—including DNA, fingerprints, and ballistic matches—strengthened the case. Robbery with homicide, aggravated by rape, was filed against the suspects. While Jericho and Glen faced prison, the minor was turned over to social services, though authorities confirmed he would eventually be transferred to adult custody once he reached legal age.

The case sparked debate not only about the cruelty of the act but also about lapses in law enforcement. Many were outraged upon learning that two of the suspects had long-standing warrants that had not been acted upon. Had they been arrested earlier, countless lives—including Roan and Jade’s—might have been spared from harm.

For the grieving families, the wounds remain raw. The pain of losing children so young, so full of promise, is unbearable. For Roan’s parents, their once-vibrant daughter who dreamed of shaping futures through teaching was gone. For Jade’s family, the son who dreamed of building a better tomorrow through engineering would never return home.

This tragedy is a chilling reminder of the fragility of life and the dangers lurking even in familiar places. More than that, it is a call to action—for stronger protection, swifter justice, and vigilance in communities.

Today, their families, friends, and supporters continue to cry out for justice, holding on to the hope that the courts will deliver the punishment these crimes deserve. For now, the memory of Roan and Jade lives on—not as victims, but as two young souls whose love story, though short-lived, continues to inspire a city still healing from heartbreak.