Anniversary Turns to Atrocity: Ex-Boyfriend Kills Woman in Front of Child in Cebu City

The city of Cebu is reeling from the shock of a domestic tragedy that unfolded in the early hours of a seemingly ordinary day, transforming what was intended to be a romantic gesture into a devastating crime. The incident, centered around the ninth anniversary of a relationship that had already soured, saw a young woman brutally killed by her former partner in a fit of rage, an act made infinitely more tragic by the fact that it occurred directly in front of her six-year-old child. The details emerging from the police investigation paint a grim picture of possessiveness, rejection, and the ultimate failure of domestic peace.

The victim, identified as Percy Paculaba, 24, was a resident of a rented wooden and bamboo-slat boarding house in Sitio Bagong Buhay, Barangay Careta, Cebu City. Her life was tragically cut short on December 11, 2025, around 2:00 AM. This was merely hours after her ex-boyfriend, Christian Lavarez, a 23-year-old factory worker from Mandaue City, arrived at her residence. Lavarez had come bearing gifts—chocolates and flowers—an attempt to surprise Paculaba and ostensibly reconcile their broken relationship on what would have been their ninth year anniversary.

The scene leading up to the violence was one of escalating tension, witnessed by neighbors and the victim’s close friend who also resided in the boarding house. Lavarez arrived around 7:00 PM on December 10. According to witness accounts provided to the Mabolo Police Station, the purpose of his visit was clear: to patch things up after a period of separation and heated arguments, often centered on Paculaba’s child. The witnesses recalled seeing the couple engaged in a loud argument, with Lavarez insistent on reconciliation and Paculaba firmly refusing, indicating she had moved on and found interest in another man.

Despite the initial heated exchange, the argument eventually subsided. Lavarez and Paculaba retreated to her rented room, leading the onlookers to believe that a fragile truce had been achieved. One neighbor even observed Lavarez washing dishes afterward, further cementing the impression that peace had been restored. This deceptive quietude, however, was merely the prelude to the horrific events that would follow, highlighting the unpredictable and often hidden dangers lurking within domestic disputes. The community’s decision not to intervene, assuming it was a typical couple’s quarrel, is a painful reflection of how normalization of conflict can lead to catastrophic oversight.

The false sense of security was shattered at approximately 2:00 AM when the boarding house was jolted awake by loud noises emanating from Paculaba’s room, quickly followed by the distinct sound of the woman screaming for help. While initially hesitant, believing it to be another ordinary fight, the neighbors’ inaction shifted to alarm when they observed Lavarez hastily leaving the premises on his motorcycle. Even as he sped away, they could still faintly hear Paculaba’s weak cries for assistance.

One courageous neighbor finally decided to investigate, climbing up to the victim’s room. The sight that greeted them was one of utter devastation: Paculaba was found lifeless, lying face down on the bed, covered in blood. The police were immediately notified, and the Mabolo Police Station responded swiftly. Upon arrival, officers confirmed the victim had no pulse and secured the scene, requesting the presence of the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) team to conduct forensic processing.

The SOCO team recovered crucial evidence from the crime scene, including a hammer and a knife, both confirmed to be the murder weapons. The victim, Percy Paculaba, had suffered severe trauma, including stab wounds to her abdomen and a fractured skull resulting from repeated blows inflicted by the hammer. The combination of these injuries was determined to be the immediate cause of her death. The brutality of the attack underscored the extreme rage and violence unleashed by the perpetrator.

Based on the compelling evidence and witness accounts, Christian Lavarez was immediately named the primary suspect. A hot pursuit operation was initiated by the Mabolo City PNP. CCTV footage from the area corroborated the suspect’s hurried escape on his motorcycle, reinforcing the urgency of the manhunt. The search, however, was curtailed around 9:00 AM when Lavarez surrendered himself. He turned himself in to a police officer who was also his neighbor, who then facilitated his official turnover to the Philippine National Police (PNP) custody.

Lavarez’s subsequent sworn statement to investigators confirmed the allegations against him, yet he attempted to frame the narrative as one of self-defense. He admitted to arriving with the anniversary gifts on December 10, but claimed Paculaba rejected them, throwing the flowers back at him, which ignited his anger. He further stated that his rage intensified when Paculaba confirmed she had moved on and was interested in another man, crushing his hopes of reconciliation.

In his desperate claim of self-defense, Lavarez alleged that Paculaba attempted to stab him first. He claimed he managed to wrestle the knife away from her, which led to him stabbing her in the abdomen. He then claimed that “everything went dark” due to his blinding rage, leading him to grab a hammer and repeatedly strike her head. As evidence, he presented a superficial cut on his hand to the investigators. This account, however, was met with immediate skepticism and outright rejection by the victim’s friends and neighbors.

The victim’s inner circle painted a very different picture of the relationship. They testified that the couple had been separated for quite some time, with their frequent and intense arguments, particularly those concerning Paculaba’s six-year-old child, being the primary reason for the breakup. The victim, Percy, had chosen her child and finally ended the relationship, despite the suspect’s persistent attempts to win her back. This continued harassment and the victim’s final refusal to reconcile were identified as the true, underlying motive for the heinous crime.

The deepest wound of this tragedy is reserved for Paculaba’s six-year-old child, who was present and bore witness to the horrific end of his mother. The child is currently undergoing crucial psychosocial intervention and debriefing to cope with the profound trauma of witnessing such a violent, brutal loss. The long-term psychological impact on the young witness is immeasurable and represents one of the most devastating consequences of domestic violence.

Christian Lavarez is now in the custody of the PNP, facing multiple charges, chief among them being murder. The prosecution is expected to seek the maximum penalty, given the brutality of the act and the presence of a minor witness. While the legal process will determine the final measure of justice, the pain inflicted upon the victim’s family, especially her orphaned child, is an enduring tragedy that no court verdict can fully alleviate.

The case of Percy Paculaba is a stark and painful reminder of the pervasiveness of domestic violence. She joins the list of women whose lives were violently cut short by men who promised them love, but instead delivered heartbreak and death. Her story serves as a critical call to action for stronger protective measures, increased awareness, and more robust intervention systems to prevent future domestic tragedies from spiraling into such irreversible acts of violence. The need for justice for Percy and protection for her son remains paramount.