In June, a mother’s worst nightmare became a horrifying reality in the quiet town of Tubungan, Iloilo. Fe Banda discovered her 17-year-old daughter, Candy, unresponsive on her bedroom floor. The initial shock and grief were compounded by confusion. The family, including Candy’s father and two older sisters working in New Zealand, clung to the hope that it was a tragic accident or a sudden, natural event. But the autopsy would soon reveal a disturbing and sinister truth: Candy’s life had been taken from her, and the investigation would lead to a suspect so close and familiar, it would shatter the family’s sense of safety and trust forever.

A Quiet Girl with Big Dreams

Candy Banda was, by all accounts, a good daughter and a loving, if sometimes withdrawn, sister. The youngest of four, she lived with her mother in Iloilo while her father and two older sisters worked in New Zealand to support the family. She was an introvert who preferred a small circle of friends, a typical teenager who enjoyed mobile games and talking about makeup with her sisters. She had a dream of one day becoming a nurse. Just months before her tragic de@th, her sisters had flown home from New Zealand to celebrate her 18th birthday in a joyous family reunion, a memory that now stands in heartbreaking contrast to the tragedy that would follow.

A Mother’s Horrific Discovery and a Chilling Revelation

On the afternoon of June 17, Fe became worried when Candy, who often slept in late, had not emerged from her room all day. After knocking yielded no response, she peered through the window and saw her daughter lying on the floor. In a panic, she climbed through the window using a nearby malunggay tree and was met with a devastating scene: her daughter was cold and unresponsive.

The family’s initial theories of a brain aneurysm or another natural cause were brutally dispelled by the results of the autopsy. Dr. Owen Lebaquin found that Candy’s passing was not from natural causes. She had scratches on her hands, feet, and face, and signs of abuse. The definitive cause of de@th was four severe hematomas on her head, indicating she had been struck with powerful, repeated blows. The time of her passing was estimated to be between 11 AM and 12 PM. The case was now officially a homicide investigation.

A Suspect in Plain Sight

The police investigation moved quickly. Suspicion soon fell on a man from the neighborhood, Aljan Jalbuna. His name came up after a police operation was conducted at the home of another known local troublemaker, whose house was just a few meters from the Bandas’. Witnesses reported seeing Jalbuna drinking and engaging in illicit activities at that house in the hours leading up to the incident that took Candy’s life.

The revelation that Jalbuna was the prime suspect was a profound shock to the Banda family. He was not a stranger; he was a neighbor, a “habal-habal” (motorcycle taxi) driver they knew and frequently hired. Candy’s sisters recalled that he had been their go-to driver for trips to the market. They had even played games with him during New Year’s celebrations, considering him a “friend.” They never noticed any unusual interest or animosity from him towards their sister.

A Web of Lies: The Confession

Upon his arrest, Aljan Jalbuna confessed to his involvement in Candy’s de@th, but his story was a chilling and contradictory web of excuses and denials. He admitted he was intoxicated on the night of June 17. He claimed he climbed the malunggay tree and entered Candy’s room through the unlocked part of her window with the sole intention of “scaring” her as a prank. He insisted he was not attracted to her and had no intention of assaulting her.

According to his first version of events, Candy screamed when she saw him. He rushed to cover her mouth, a struggle ensued, and they both fell from the bed, causing Candy to hit her head on the floor. He denied ever punching her. However, in a later interview, he admitted to a more violent confrontation.

He claimed that Candy was already not wearing any bottoms when he entered the room, a detail that has been met with skepticism. He also chillingly noted that Candy’s dog was in the room but never barked because the animal was familiar with him. He ended his confession with an apology to the family, saying he would accept any punishment.

The Banda family, however, has vehemently rejected his story. They do not believe that a simple fall could have caused the four severe hematomas that the autopsy found. They believe his actions were deliberate and that his story is a self-serving lie to minimize his culpability.

A Family’s Unbearable Pain and a Quest for Justice

The family’s grief is immeasurable. The sisters, who had to fly home from New Zealand for a second time in a matter of months, this time for a funeral, are left to grapple with the horrifying final moments of their youngest sister’s life. They are haunted by the knowledge that the room where this happened was the same room where they all used to sleep together. Their mother, Fe, is left with the traumatic memory of discovering her own daughter’s body.

The family is now united in their quest for justice for Candy. They refuse to accept Jalbuna’s contradictory and unbelievable confession. They believe that their neighbor, in a sudden fit of rage, took the life of their beloved daughter and sister, a quiet girl with a bright future ahead of her. While they mourn a life cut tragically short, they are determined to ensure that the person responsible for this monstrous act is held fully accountable.