In the sprawling narrative of global migration, where millions of Filipinos brave the uncertainties of foreign lands in pursuit of better lives for their families, there are stories that shatter hope and expose the deepest horrors of human cruelty. This is one such story. Maribel Alpas, a 31-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Hinobaan, Negros Occidental, embarked on a journey that promised a brighter future, first as a domestic helper in the Philippines, then as a caregiver in the United Kingdom. What began as a selfless act of sacrifice, driven by immense love for her parents, siblings, and nephews, tragically culminated in a brutal disappearance and a horrifying discovery, leaving her family heartbroken and communities in both the Philippines and the UK reeling in shock. Her case, a grim tapestry woven with fragmented clues, blurry CCTV footage, and unsettling suspicions, has peeled back the veneer of trust to reveal a chilling tale of alleged betrayal and unspeakable violence.

Maribel, affectionately known as “Ibing” by her loved ones, was born on February 2, 1983. Her family described her as reliable, kind, and generous—a tireless worker whose dreams were solely focused on providing a comfortable life for those she cherished back home. She single-handedly financed her sibling’s education, embodying the quintessential Filipino spirit of self-sacrifice. In 2010, through a friend, she met Dennis and Girly Samson from Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija. She soon became their nanny and domestic helper, developing a deep bond with their children. When the Samson couple, both nurses, migrated to the UK, Dennis as a nursing assistant and Girly as a staff nurse in the same hospital, Maribel stayed behind in the Philippines, continuing to care for their children for a modest salary, driven by her affection for the kids.

A year later, the Samsons decided to bring their children to the UK. Realizing they would need continued care for their kids, they extended a life-changing offer to Maribel: join them in the UK. The promise was alluring—not only would she continue her role, but after five years of service, they would sponsor her for UK citizenship. It was an opportunity that Maribel, with her aspirations for her family, could not refuse. In 2011, she arrived in Warrington, UK, diligently sending almost all her earnings back home, enduring the exhaustion for the sake of her loved ones’ future.

By November 2013, after two years abroad, Maribel returned home for a visit, a joyful reunion with her family. Despite her desire to stay, her commitment to her family’s future and the promise of UK citizenship weighed heavily. She decided to renew her contract with the Samsons for another two years, envisioning that upon its completion, her wards would be older, allowing her to seek higher-paying jobs and finally secure the coveted citizenship. Her return flight to Manchester, UK, was scheduled for March 22, 2014. However, according to her employers, Maribel never arrived in the UK. Instead, her journey took a devastating, unforeseen detour.

Just three days later, on the morning of March 25, 2014, a farmer, let’s call him Jun, made a gruesome discovery in a remote area of Kiabao, Nueva Ecija. Walking along a secluded canal, he noticed a bucket seemingly discarded. His curiosity quickly turned to horror when he approached and found the upper torso of a woman inside. Not far from the bucket, Jun discovered a sack containing personal belongings, including a passport and a joint affidavit. He immediately alerted the authorities.

Police quickly arrived at the scene and launched an investigation. Their initial assessment indicated that the victim had been murdered elsewhere and her body parts dumped in Kiabao. The passport, found among her belongings, proved to be the key to identifying the victim: Maribel Alpas, the OFW. Maribel’s sister, Josebelle, later confirmed the identity of the remains, plunging the family into unimaginable grief and rage over the brutal end to their beloved Maribel. A subsequent search for other body parts in the barangay proved fruitless, adding to the mystery surrounding her death.

The presence of Maribel’s remains in Nueva Ecija puzzled investigators. Josebelle revealed that Maribel was indeed scheduled to depart for the UK. Her travel itinerary had taken her from Hinobaan to Dumaguete by bus, then a flight to Manila. It was in Manila, late at night, that Maribel boarded another bus bound for Nueva Ecija. Her destination: the provincial home of her employers, the Samsons, where she was supposed to collect some documents before her flight to the UK. Josebelle recalled Maribel’s last message on March 20, 2014, around 11:30 PM, stating she was in Pampanga. After that, all contact with Maribel ceased.

The investigation intensified. Among the items found in the sack was a handwritten itinerary by Maribel herself, indicating she was supposed to arrive at a gas station in Nueva Ecija by 10:00 AM. Crucial CCTV footage from the gas station emerged, showing a white multi-cab picking up Maribel. Although the image was blurry, police theorized a male individual was the driver. Farmer Jun, who discovered the remains, corroborated this, recalling seeing a white multi-cab pass by before his horrifying find.

Police then traced the Samsons’ provincial house to Barangay Lourdes, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija—about an hour away from where Maribel’s remains were found. However, neighbors informed them that Dennis and Girly Samson had long since departed for the UK. Nevertheless, police maintained surveillance on the house and observed a man, later identified as Elelo Valdez, emerging from it. When shown Maribel’s photo, Valdez claimed he did not know her.

Further inquiries with neighbors yielded disturbing information. One neighbor recalled seeing a fire emanating from the Samson house on the evening of March 20, suggesting an incineration. A security guard also provided a sworn statement, implicating Valdez and Reginald Samson, Dennis’s brother and Girly’s brother, respectively. The guard claimed that on September 21, 2024 (likely an error in the transcript, meaning March 21, 2014), their OIC had stated that Reginald Samson had borrowed Valdez’s multi-cab. These circumstantial pieces of evidence led police to suspect the Samson couple’s relatives, Elelo Valdez and Reginald Samson, of involvement in Maribel’s death.

With growing suspicion, police applied for a search warrant for the Samson residence, believing the couple might be involved in their domestic helper’s murder. The following day, police arrived at the house but could not immediately gain entry as it was vacant. They had to locate relatives of Dennis and Girly to gain permission to search the premises.

Meanwhile, police coordinated with UK authorities regarding Dennis and Girly Samson. Both nurses were temporarily suspended from their jobs while the investigation unfolded. In April 2014, Dennis was interviewed by police regarding Maribel’s death. He vehemently denied any involvement, stating that they had been out of the Philippines for a long time before her death, making their involvement impossible. He confirmed, however, that he had instructed Maribel to retrieve documents from their Nueva Ecija home before returning to the UK. Girly also expressed deep distress over Maribel’s fate, considering her part of their family, even buying her clothes and personal items. She passionately denied any role in the murder, stating they could never harm someone they considered family.

The search of the Samson house yielded gruesome evidence. Police noted an area that appeared to have been incinerated. Within a septic tank, investigators discovered burnt bones and documents belonging to Maribel. Police concluded that the suspects who killed Maribel might have been under the influence of illicit substances, given the extreme brutality of the crime. This theory was further supported by the discovery of buried illegal drugs within the Samson residence, potentially used by the perpetrators. Additionally, neighbors of Reginald Samson identified him as a known drug dealer in the area.

On April 10, 2014, murder charges were filed against Elelo Valdez and Reginald Samson, the relatives of Maribel’s UK-based employers. News reports indicated that Elelo Valdez was the individual seen on the CCTV footage picking up Maribel at the gas station. Witnesses also reported seeing Elelo and Reginald riding the white multi-cab on the morning of March 21, with a bucket similar to the one containing Maribel’s remains in the back. An arraignment for the case was set, but neither Elelo nor Reginald appeared in court.

Further news surfaced, with a former mayor of Negros Occidental revealing information suggesting that it might not have been Dennis who instructed Maribel to go to their Nueva Ecija house. Instead, Girly, Dennis’s wife, was possibly the one who sent Maribel there, allegedly for Elelo and Reginald to kill her. This theory emerged amid suspicions that Girly was jealous of the special attention her husband was giving to Maribel, their nanny. The former mayor suggested that the crime appeared to be meticulously planned.

Dennis and Girly Samson were eventually able to return to their jobs in the UK, as reports indicated there was insufficient concrete evidence directly linking them to Maribel’s death. In 2015, a warrant of arrest was issued for Elelo and Reginald, but both suspects vanished without a trace and remain at large to this day, wanted for murder. The haunting question remains: Why was Maribel brutally murdered in such a horrific manner? Maribel’s sister has vowed that their family will not give up their fight for justice until the perpetrators are brought to account. This harrowing case stands as a stark reminder of the extreme vulnerabilities faced by OFWs and the enduring pursuit of truth in the face of unspeakable crime.