PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — What was meant to be a quiet start to 2026 turned into a nightmare for the Dumalasa family after a younger brother fatally stabbed his own elder sibling in Barangay Datagan, leaving parents broken by grief and a household forever scarred by violence.
The victim, Roñiel Dumalasa, 21, uttered what would become his final words on the first day of the new year: “I am forgiving as a brother. We have no problem.” Hours later, he was dead—allegedly killed by his 18-year-old younger brother following a heated confrontation. According to the family, alcohol may have played a role in clouding the suspect’s judgment, eventually pushing a simmering conflict toward a deadly end.
The tragedy unfolded shortly after 1:00 p.m. when the siblings crossed paths near a poultry area not far from their home. Tensions reportedly flared after Roñiel allegedly smashed a glass after drinking soda and cut a wire, angering the younger brother. Minutes later, Roñiel lay asleep beneath a mango tree—unaware that his brother would soon climb up and stab him repeatedly in the neck using a large bladed weapon.
A 17-year-old sister witnessed the horrifying scene. Still shaken, she told authorities she never imagined her brother was capable of killing their own sibling. The suspect allegedly warned her not to tell their mother about the crime until he could flee to Nangan-Nangan, Tigbao. The mother, Maribeth Dumalasa, grew suspicious when her son hurriedly packed his belongings. Her worst fears were confirmed when her daughter returned home in tears and revealed the unimaginable truth: one son had killed the other.
As of this writing, Roñiel’s body remains at Gamalinda Funeral Homes, unable to be brought home due to unpaid funeral expenses—another burden for a family already drowning in sorrow. The suspect is now under police custody at the Pagadian City Police Station after voluntarily surrendering. Maribeth wept as she spoke of her pain, saying she had asked her son to come home for the New Year so the family could be complete—never imagining that reunion would end in bloodshed.
The Dumalasa family’s story is a grim reminder that unchecked anger, substance use, and unresolved conflict can destroy lives in an instant. In a season meant for forgiveness and new beginnings, a mother is left mourning one son while watching another face a future behind bars—both victims of a tragedy that should never have happened.