Krystel “Mic” Gutierrez was a promising 20-year-old tourism student at St. Paul’s College in Manila, living with her aunt and uncle in Las Piñas. She was the only daughter in her family, described as beautiful, kind, and friendly. Her parents, a nurse and an accountant working overseas in Saudi Arabia, had high hopes for her.

In 2011, Mic met Christopher Von Moraleja, the son of a former police official and barangay chief, through a work-study program at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Despite the two-year age difference, they became close and eventually official partners, with Christopher often driving Mic home and attending family events. Mic’s parents were initially trusting of the relationship, believing their daughter had made a good choice.

However, their seemingly perfect relationship had a toxic undercurrent. Friends testified that Christopher was consumed by intense jealousy, frequently arguing with Mic if she spoke to other men.

While Mic initially tried to be patient, Christopher’s possessiveness grew, stemming from his fear that Mic, given her ambition and beauty, would eventually leave him.

The relationship reached a breaking point one month before Mic was due to graduate. On February 1, 2011, Christopher picked up Mic from her OJT in Makati, and they went to his house in Pasay.

There, an intense argument erupted. Mic, exhausted by his constant suspicion and jealousy, told Christopher she was tired of his behavior and wanted to end the relationship.

Christopher reacted with extreme rage. His brothers, overhearing the confrontation, heard Christopher scream, “If you leave me, I’d rather you pass away so no one else can have you.”

The struggle continued in the bedroom. Christopher’s brothers ran to call their father, Von Moraleja, a barangay official.

Von Moraleja and a fellow tanod (barangay peacekeeper) arrived at the scene and found Mic unresponsive. In a chaotic scene, they put Mic in a tricycle and rushed her to the Pasay City General Hospital.

Tragically, she was pronounced dead upon arrival due to multiple stab wounds, one of which pierced her heart.

Christopher, the perpetrator, had already fled the scene. His father, Von Moraleja, initially told police he didn’t know his son’s whereabouts but promised to persuade him to surrender.

Police launched a massive manhunt for Christopher, listing him as a Most Wanted person in Pasay City.

The investigation quickly established that the motive was Christopher’s obsessive jealousy and his refusal to accept rejection, compounded by his inability to control his temper. The family of Mic Gutierrez struggled with their loss, publicly pleading for Christopher to surrender.

For nearly nine years, Christopher Von Moraleja evaded capture, hiding in various provinces. Finally, on January 6, 2020, through a tip, police arrested him in Nagcarlan, Laguna. He was brought back to Tuguegarao and immediately pleaded guilty to the charges of homicide.

The trial proceeded quickly after his plea. Christopher was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years and one day to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment. The case brought a painful end to the long ordeal, highlighting the destructive power of obsessive love and control.