The quiet, close-knit community of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, can finally breathe a cautious sigh of relief, but it is one heavy with grief and unanswered questions. After a tense manhunt that spanned more than four months, authorities have arrested 23-year-old John Kyler Labora Andohon, the primary suspect in the devastating May 21st incident that claimed the lives of his parents and teenage brother. His capture closes a chapter of fear and uncertainty but opens a more painful one, forcing a community to confront a tragedy born from what appears to be a deeply personal and hidden struggle.

The horror began on the morning of May 21, 2025. News of a violent incident at the Andohon residence spread rapidly through the city, shattering its peaceful atmosphere. Inside the family home, police discovered a horrific scene. The father, 50-year-old Ales “Kocoy” Andohon; the mother, 48-year-old Alas Vani; and their 14-year-old son, Ivan, had their lives tragically cut short. Investigators reported that the three had been attacked in their sleep with a hammer and a metal pipe.

In a heartbreaking turn that has become the case’s most searing detail, the only survivors were the two youngest children, both of elementary school age. These traumatized but courageous children provided the unshakable testimony that immediately directed the investigation inward, toward a member of their own family. They identified the person responsible as their own older brother, John Kyler.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Andohon vanished. He became a ghost, his face soon appearing on most-wanted lists across Bukidnon and the wider Region 10. For four months, a shadow of fear lingered over the community as the search continued.

The manhunt finally concluded on September 12, 2025, when a police task force, acting on a crucial tip, located and arrested him at his former boarding house right in Malaybalay City. He was taken into custody on a warrant for two counts of parricide for the passing of his parents and one count of murder for his brother. The court has recommended no bail, signaling the gravity of the charges he faces.

With Andohon now in custody, the focus of the investigation has shifted from the “who” to the deeply unsettling “why.” A powerful and tragic motive has begun to emerge, painting a picture not of a hardened criminal, but of a young man crumbling under the immense weight of a secret shame. According to reports, Andohon was under extreme psychological strain related to a profound academic failure.

His parents, described as proud and hardworking, held high hopes for their eldest son. They fully expected him to graduate with a degree in criminology in 2023. Their pride was so great that they had even made preparations for a graduation ceremony to celebrate his achievement. However, the ceremony never happened.

Andohon had not, in fact, completed his degree and was apparently unable to face his family with the truth. This unspoken failure, and the immense pressure to live up to his parents’ expectations, is now believed to be the central factor that led to the devastating events of May 21.

Police Colonel Jovit Kaluway, the Provincial Police Director of Bukidnon, has confirmed that investigators are thoroughly evaluating the suspect’s psychological condition and whether it played a role in the incident. This line of inquiry has transformed the case from a straightforward crime into a somber exploration of mental health, the crushing weight of family expectations, and the tragic consequences that can follow when a person’s silent struggles go unaddressed.

John Kyler Andohon is currently being held at the Malaybalay City Police Station, awaiting further hearings and comprehensive psychiatric assessments. While the legal process is only just beginning, the tragedy has already sparked an urgent and necessary conversation throughout the community and beyond about the hidden pressures placed upon young people and the vital importance of mental health support.