What’s the toughest price you had to pay for love? A 16-year-old high school student in Rodriguez, Rizal had to pay for it with his life when he was found dead after visiting his girlfriend’s house. Here’s what happened.

The victim

According to Emil Sumangil’s 24 Oras report, Grade 11 student Ronald John Delgado left his home last October 29 to do homework at his girlfriend’s house. That was the last time his family saw him alive.

The victim’s mother, Raquel Delgado, even said that her son borrowed her cell phone before he left. Hours after he was due home, Ronald’s family tried calling the phone, but it was “out of coverage area.”

Death by strangulation

The next day, on October 30, Ronald’s body was found on the roadside along Sitio Calumpit, Barangay Macabud, Rodriguez, Rizal. Reports say his hands were tied. Meanwhile, his death certificate ruled the cause of death as strangulation.

In an interview, Raquel expressed her grief and dismay. “Sobrang sakit, ang sakit-sakit, kasi nag-iisa ko anak na lalaki yan e. Kung namatay lang yan sa sakit, okay lang. Pero ‘yung ginawa, karumaldumal. Sinakal siya, binugbog, pasa-pasa ‘yung mukha,” she said.

Police start investigating

Since Ronald’s girlfriend was most likely the last person to see him alive, authorities decided to visit her house to get to the bottom of the murder. However, Police Lieutenant Colonel Arnulfo Selencio, the Rodriguez chief of police, said that the whole family already left the area. There was no one at the house. Even the girlfriend’s relatives have fled the scene.

A complicated love story

According to Selencio, witnesses said the girlfriend’s parents didn’t approve of Ronald dating their daughter. Selencio figures anger was the primary motive for the victim’s murder.

Meanwhile, Ronald’s sister said her brother’s girlfriend was in an arranged marriage situation. Her parents were allegedly only waiting for her to come of age before marrying her off to another man.

Ronald’s girlfriend asked for help

On the night of Ronald’s untimely demise, his girlfriend’s friends said she reached out to them in a group chat asking for help. The girlfriend allegedly stated that her brother was angry that Ronald was at their house and she was afraid that her brother would beat her boyfriend up.

“Sabi niya, puntahan niyo dito si Ron, kasi nahuli kami ng kuya ko, sabi niya baka bugbugin,” said Raquel during an interview.

The hunt is on

Authorities are now looking for the suspects and preparing murder charges against the family of Ronald’s girlfriend. However, they’re keeping things tightly under wraps while the investigation is ongoing to find the culprit behind the Grade 11 student strangled to death.

Read more:

• A Crime of Passion? Pastor is Accused of Masterminding the Murder of Mr CDO 2023 Candidate
• Shockingly Vile: 15-Year-Old Jeffrey Dahmer Fan Murders His 4-Year-Old Nephew in Las Piñas
• #JusticeforMaguadSiblings: What We Know So Far About the Brutal Crime in Cotabato

Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube, to be the first to know about the latest news and coolest trends!