In the early hours of October 17, 2025, a heinous and incomprehensible crime shattered the peaceful tranquility of the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte. A loving couple, devout in their faith and dedicated to their young family, were brutally attacked and killed inside the sanctity of their own home. The incident instantly sent shockwaves through the local community, plunging their family and friends into deep grief, and eliciting widespread horror and outrage across social media.
The victims were identified as Jonathan Prado, 43, and his wife, Brilliant Pearl Prado, 31. Both sustained numerous fatal hack wounds to the head and body, indicative of an intense and savage assault. The tragedy was compounded by the fact that the couple was entirely innocent—a sudden, violent end brought on by a motive that is as shocking as it is profoundly disturbing and difficult to comprehend.
II. The Victims: A Life Dedicated to Faith and Family
Jonathan Prado, originally from Barangay Estado, Matanao, Cotabato, was remembered by his mother as a kind, quiet, and deeply religious man. The tenth of ten siblings, Jonathan’s passing marked a heartbreaking first for the family. Although he had completed a degree in Education, he chose to forgo the board examination, instead dedicating his life to serving his faith.
His commitment to spirituality was long-standing; his mother recounted that his faith was profound even in his youth. Unlike his brother, who chose a military path, Jonathan consciously selected a different kind of service: he attended bible school and pursued the calling of the clergy, famously stating he preferred the “Bible over the gun” and wished not to die in war, but to live for his calling. After years of diligence, he achieved his goal and became an ordained Pastor.
It was during this phase of ministry that he met the beautiful, kind, and cheerful Pearl, a native of Digos City. Pearl, then 27, shared Jonathan’s deep-seated faith and vision for a purposeful life. Their shared spiritual journey quickly blossomed into a profound, sweet romance, culminating in marriage and the birth of their only child in 2023.
With the arrival of their baby, their priorities shifted slightly. They focused on raising their child and nurturing their growing family. Approximately 19 months ago—just three months after their son was born—the couple decided to move to a rented house in Barangay Villarica, Samal Island, a locale known for its scenic beauty and reputation for being a quiet, safe haven.
Pearl took on the role of a full-time housewife, dedicating her time to their infant, temporarily stepping away from teaching or pastoral duties. Jonathan, in turn, adjusted his pastoral hours and sought secular employment to provide for his family. He secured a job as a security guard at a mall in Davao City and was later promoted to Head Security Officer. Initially, the distance meant infrequent trips home, but he was eventually transferred to the mall’s Samal Island branch. His work hours were typically daytime, meaning he returned home at night, leaving his wife and child alone—a reality they felt comfortable with due to the quiet nature of their barangay.
III. The Unimaginable Betrayal: A Guardian Turned Predator
The Prado family’s sense of security was further enhanced by the location of their rented house: though roadside, it was situated right next to the patrol base of the Task Force Samal (TFS). The TFS, a special auxiliary company under the supervision of Task Force Davao, is a local paramilitary force responsible for maintaining peace and order across the island.
Tragically, and unbeknownst to the devoted couple, one of the very men entrusted with their community’s safety would become the instrument of their doom. The perpetrator was identified as Alias NN, a 36-year-old unmarried resident of Sitio Caimito, Babak District, not far from the Prado’s home.
NN was a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU), a paramilitary organization trained by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to act as a “force multiplier” in local operations. Like many CAFGU members, he was an ordinary civilian—a farmer, fisherman, or average citizen—who had volunteered for training. He later became a paid member of the Task Force Samal, established by the local government of IGACoS in 2011.
Since the Prado family moved in, NN frequently encountered them during his patrols. Jonathan and Pearl were known in the neighborhood as a kind, loving, quiet, and perpetually smiling couple. It was also undeniable that Pearl, even as a wife and mother, possessed a striking beauty. This combination likely fueled a dangerous, hidden admiration in NN.
Reports from NN’s colleagues indicated that he often watched the couple, particularly when they were seen in affectionate moments—Jonathan embracing Pearl or carrying their child—a scene NN reportedly envied and perhaps yearned for. This silent admiration is believed to have mutated into intense jealousy towards Jonathan and a deep, dark obsession and lust for Pearl.
IV. The Fateful Night and the Execution of the Crime
On October 16, the day before the murder, life appeared normal. Jonathan went to work while Pearl and their baby remained at home. NN, however, was reported to have been drinking heavily with colleagues despite having duty. As the night deepened, he became severely intoxicated. Jonathan returned home late and the couple eventually fell asleep, unaware of the extreme peril looming over their lives.
Around 1:00 AM, NN excused himself from his companions, his mind clouded by drunkenness and consuming lust. He headed straight to the Prado residence, likely assuming Jonathan was absent or asleep. He quietly approached the house. Jonathan was awakened by a knock or a disturbance at the door. Recognizing the figure outside—a Task Force Samal member meant to be guarding the peace—Jonathan did not hesitate to open the door.
In a split second, the unthinkable happened. Jonathan was met with three powerful hacks, immediately collapsing onto the floor, profusely bleeding and lifeless. Pearl, alerted by the commotion, rushed out of the room only to be confronted by the horrifying sight of her slain husband. Her scream of terror was silenced before she could flee or call for help.
NN then proceeded to carry out his dark desire, followed by a frenzied attack on Pearl, leaving her dead as well. Amidst the unspeakable carnage, the couple’s two-year-old son slept soundly in his crib, an innocent victim orphaned in a single, brutal moment, completely oblivious to the tragedy that had just destroyed his world.
V. The Aftermath, Investigation, and Arrest
The perpetrator vanished silently into the night. The following morning, Jonathan’s colleagues grew worried when he failed to report for work and remained unresponsive to calls. Upon visiting the house, they discovered the shocking scene: Jonathan and Pearl lifeless in pools of blood. The terrified and hungry child, having woken up, was crying and was immediately taken into the care of the City Social Welfare and Development.
Investigators arrived to find the victims severely mutilated, with multiple chop wounds, indicating a fierce, desperate struggle, particularly by Pearl. Jonathan reportedly suffered severe cuts to his body, hands, and head, a sliced neck, and even severed fingers, suggesting he tried to fight off the assailant. The murder weapon—a bolo—was not found at the scene, adding an initial layer of mystery.
News of the double murder spread like wildfire. Samal Island Mayor Al David “Toto” Uy offered a PHP 100,000 reward for the immediate capture of the suspect. Thanks to a local CCTV camera, authorities quickly identified the individual seen approaching the victims’ house around 1:00 AM: Alias NN.
In a swift and efficient operation, NN was apprehended later that day, around 5:00 PM. Initially, he denied any involvement. However, confronted with the damning CCTV footage showing him near the premises, he had no choice but to confess to the atrocious crime. A video capturing the confrontation between NN and Pearl’s enraged relatives at the Mayor’s office circulated, showing the profound grief and fury of the family, who nonetheless maintained their composure despite the intense pain.
VI. The Motive and the Legacy of Loss
NN later offered a weak, easily dismissible defense, claiming he was too drunk to remember the events, only realizing he was inside the house, covered in blood. However, the pre-meditation involved in bringing a bolo to the scene strongly suggests he had a malicious intent towards Pearl or both victims. The immediate attack on Jonathan upon opening the door indicates a willingness to kill anyone who stood in his way. The Chief of Police reported that NN admitted his intention was simply to hack anyone who moved that night.
Initial investigation points to jealousy, intense lust, and alcohol influence as the primary motives—the lethal cocktail of an unrequited, obsessive desire directed at a married woman who was unattainable. The irony is excruciating: a man enlisted to protect the community instead used his privileged position and knowledge to stalk and kill.
The possibility of sexual assault on Pearl is also under investigation, which, if confirmed by DNA examination, would further escalate the gravity of the case and reveal the full extent of his depraved intentions.
Currently, Alias NN faces a charge of Double Murder. Yet, no legal sentence can ever restore the lives lost or heal the devastation inflicted upon the orphaned child. The infant, having spent several days under the care of the CSWD, has been reunited with grieving relatives. The bodies of Jonathan and Pearl were solemnly returned to Matanao, Cotabato, for their final rites.
This tragedy will forever be etched into the history of Samal Island—a stark, chilling reminder that in an instant, jealousy, intoxication, and resentment can destroy a family rooted in love and faith, betraying the very trust placed in the guardians of peace.