Julie Ann Rodelas, known affectionately as “Jaja” to her loved ones, was a vibrant 20-year-old born on July 14, 1992. The youngest of her siblings, she was diligently pursuing a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management while juggling part-time modeling gigs and working as a TV talent for ABS-CBN. Her dreams were big; her mother recalled her plans to work abroad for a better future. But those dreams were brutally extinguished in November 2012.

On the evening of November 6, Julie Ann left home, telling her family she was heading to school and then meeting her close friend, Althea Altamirano, supposedly to discuss an opportunity with a TV producer. When she didn’t return home, her family grew worried. Their worst fears materialized the next morning.

Around dawn on November 7, passersby discovered the lifeless body of a young woman dumped on 18th Avenue in Cubao, Quezon City. She had no wallet or identification, but it was clear she had met a violent end, suffering multiple gunshot wounds. Curiously, she was found clutching a plastic bag containing a single burger—an insignificant detail that would later become a crucial piece of evidence.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit immediately took charge. The crime scene, surrounded by homes, schools, and businesses, offered potential witnesses. Residents reported hearing gunshots around 5 a.m. and seeing a dark Mitsubishi Montero speeding away. Alert students nearby managed to jot down a partial plate number: WO 505.

While police worked to trace the vehicle through the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Julie Ann’s frantic mother, Luz Rodelas, was consumed by worry. Her daughter often came home late due to modeling jobs, but this felt different. Her anxiety spiked when Althea’s brother, Christian, arrived at their home with Julie Ann’s belongings, claiming she had been kidnapped.

The Rodelas family frantically searched for Julie Ann but found no trace. The following day, a taxi driver overheard their desperate conversation and mentioned the unidentified young woman found in Cubao. Fearing the worst, they rushed to the morgue. Luz couldn’t bear to enter, sending her son Alvin instead. Minutes later, Alvin emerged, confirming the heartbreaking truth: the victim was indeed Julie Ann.

Luz was devastated. “It felt like I d!ed too,” she later said. “She was my child, my youngest, the one always with me every day. It hurts so much.” The grieving family immediately cooperated with the police, providing details about Julie Ann’s last known movements. The name Althea Altamirano quickly surfaced as the last person known to have been with her.

Althea, also a model who had achieved some recognition (including FHM’s “Girlfriend of the Month” in 2010), was Julie Ann’s close friend. They called each other “kambal” (twin), and Althea had even helped Julie Ann navigate the competitive world of showbiz. The autopsy later confirmed Julie Ann succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds to her head and body. Disturbingly, there were also signs suggesting a possible sexual assault, though this was never officially confirmed nor detailed in released forensic reports.

Investigators obtained a crucial piece of evidence from the crime scene: a receipt found inside the paper bag Julie Ann was holding. It was from a fast-food restaurant, issued at 2 a.m. on November 6. Police immediately requested CCTV footage from the establishment. The video showed the person who bought the burger: Fernando “JR” Quiambao Jr., a tattoo shop owner and, significantly, Althea Altamirano’s boyfriend.

Attention snapped back to Althea, who had been evasive. Instead of pressing her directly, police placed her house under surveillance. Neighbors confirmed seeing a dark Mitsubishi Montero frequently parked outside, providing the same plate number: WO 505. The LTO confirmed the vehicle was registered to JR Quiambao’s mother, Rosalina.

On the third night of surveillance, police followed a car leaving Althea’s residence, tracking it to Apalit, Pampanga—the location of the Quiambao ancestral home. There, parked on the property, was the dark Montero. Inside the house were Althea and JR. Their suspected involvement was confirmed, and the couple was brought back to Quezon City for questioning.

Althea initially stuck to a dramatic kidnapping story. She claimed that while she and Julie Ann were walking along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, a dark blue car pulled up, men grabbed Julie Ann, forced her inside, and sped off, leaving Althea terrified on the roadside. She claimed she reported the incident to Pasay police after being found crying by an officer.

However, her story had glaring holes. The Pasay police report noted she couldn’t recall the car’s color or the kidnappers’ attire due to “panic.” Julie Ann’s mother, Luz, immediately felt something was wrong, especially when Althea mentioned one kidnapper resembled Julie Ann’s own boyfriend—who, Luz knew, was fully cooperating with authorities, unlike the hiding Althea.

Under pressure, Althea’s story crumbled. She admitted she and JR had planned the abduction. The motive? Petty revenge. Althea claimed Julie Ann had spread rumors that she had a child (which was reportedly true), causing her to lose modeling gigs. Feeling disrespected, she wanted to teach Julie Ann a lesson. JR, boasting expertise in such matters, agreed to handle the details. The plan was simple: Althea would text JR their location, the Montero would arrive, and Julie Ann would be snatched. Althea insisted that assault and taking her life were never part of the plan.

She claimed she only learned of Julie Ann’s de@th via text from her brother the next day. She said she confronted JR, who allegedly denied involvement in the final act, blaming the men he hired. JR, when questioned, denied everything but pointed police towards JR Waje and a warehouse in Kuli-at, Quezon City, where Julie Ann was supposedly taken.

Police raided the warehouse, arresting Waje and another suspect, Pasawilan. A third, Fahad Usman, was taken down resisting arrest. Crucially, Waje decided to cooperate and became a state witness, laying bare the horrifying details of Julie Ann’s final hours.

Waje confirmed Althea was the mastermind and JR orchestrated the operation. The motive was indeed Althea’s anger over the rumors. Waje admitted his role in the kidnapping but denied involvement in the assault and fatal act, implicating Efren Talib and a man named Aldos. He explained that on the night of the abduction, they waited near Julie Ann and Althea’s location. Upon receiving Althea’s text, they donned masks and snatched Julie Ann.

A critical mistake occurred in the car: Waje accidentally called JR by his real name, revealing his identity to Julie Ann. At the warehouse, Julie Ann pleaded with JR to let her go, but he ignored her and left her with Talib and two lookouts, receiving a text that Althea was at the police station. Waje stated he went home to sleep.

While he was gone, Talib reportedly assaulted Julie Ann. He then texted his friend Aldos, boasting about the “beautiful girl” at the warehouse. Aldos arrived and also assaulted Julie Ann. A lookout alerted Waje, who rushed back. He found Talib outside and Aldos inside, holding Julie Ann at gunpoint. Aldos chillingly stated, “I don’t care [about JR’s orders]. I’ll use her first before you dispose of her.”

JR returned later, bringing the burger he’d bought earlier, and ordered it given to Julie Ann. Waje delivered the food, finding Aldos still in the room. Julie Ann refused the burger, saying she’d eat when she got home, still pleading with JR. JR finally decided to put her back in the car, ostensibly to take her home.

However, Waje revealed JR had secretly ordered Talib and Aldos to eliminate Julie Ann. Waje claimed he went home again after she was put in the car, asking Aldos for updates. Aldos allegedly told him he shot Julie Ann once in the head inside the vehicle. Talib followed with two more shots. They dumped her body on 18th Avenue, where they fired two or three more shots into her before fleeing. The police concluded Julie Ann was silenced because she had recognized JR.

Althea Altamirano and JR Quiambao were charged with murder. JR Waje was also eventually charged with murder and illegal possession of firearms, despite his cooperation. Efren Talib and Aldos remain fugitives. The case exposed a dark underside of friendship, jealousy, and brutal violence, leaving a family shattered and a community in shock over the betrayal perpetrated by someone Julie Ann called her “twin.”