KMJS Halloween Special: Inside the Lipa Massacre House in Batangas

The Halloween special episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" (KMJS) looked back on one of the most chilling crimes in Philippine history: the Lipa Massacre.

On April 9, 1994, Helen Arandia, 34, and her daughters, Chelsea Liz, 6, and Ann Geleen, 4, were killed inside their home in Lipa, Batangas. The suspect, Elmer Palicpic, was arrested and is currently imprisoned at the Sablayan Penal Farm in Mindoro.

Helen's husband, Ronald Arandia, was working in Saudi Arabia when the crime happened. He said his wife had planned and built their family home.

"Siya [Helen] ang lahat ng nagplano nu'n. Siya ang bumili ng lote. Siya ang nagpagawa ng plano ng bahay," Ronald said. "Kaya nagtiyaga ako sa Saudi para mapag-ipunan 'yun."

["Helen was the one who planned all of that. She bought the lot. She had the house plans drawn up. That's why I worked hard in Saudi so we could save up for it."]

He recalled learning about the tragedy while on his flight home in April 1994, a month earlier than his supposed return to the country.

"Napakahirap," he said. "Hindi ko alam kung sinong titignan ko nu'ng time na 'yun kasi tatlo sila."

["It was so difficult. I didn't know who to look at at that time because there were three of them."]

"Hindi ko alam kung paano ko nalampasan 'yun. Parang gusto ko na ring sumama sa kanila," he added.

["I don't know how I got through that. I also felt like dying to be with them."]

After his family's burial, Ronald said he felt their presence.

"Lumamig 'yung dalawang braso ko. Ang inisip ko, naroon 'yung dalawang anak ko sa tabi ko," he said.

["My arms went cold. I imagined my two children were there beside me."]

"Noong babangon na ako, mukha ni Helen ang nakita ko. Ang sabi sa akin, mag-iingat ako. Pero hindi siya umiiyak," he added.

["When I was about to get up, I saw Helen's face. She told me to take care. But she wasn't crying."]

Ronald said he has since sold the house and had it blessed.

"Sana OK na sila sa kabilang buhay, panatag na sila. At sana'y gabayan lagi nila ako," he said.

["I hope they are okay in the afterlife, that they are at peace. And I hope they will always guide me."]

Since the massacre, the house has gained a reputation for being haunted, with several renters sharing their experiences while living there.

Mary Lord, one of the renters, said she encountered a figure inside the house.

"Meron ako nakikitang pigura. Hindi ko makita 'yung mukha," she said.

["I saw a figure but I can't see the face."]

"Tapos hinahatak niya ako. Sinaksak po talaga ako na ang sakit-sakit," she added. "Nagising po [ako]. Pawis na pawis na takot na takot."

["Then she would pull me. I was really stabbed, and it was so painful. When I woke up, I was dripping with sweat and very afraid."]

She also described seeing a pair of feet and a moving door on its own.

"Hinayaan ko pero hirap talaga akong matulog po dito sa bahay na 'to. Hirap po talaga," she said.

["I have a really a hard time sleeping in this house. It is really difficult."]

Mary Lord left the house in 2018.

Meanwhile, Ofelia's family rented the house for two years.

"Pagtira ko dito, unang gabi masarap ang tulog ko. Hindi naman nakakatakot. Pero naramdaman ko talaga, nandito sila," Ofelia said. "Kasi s'yempre, dito sila namatay eh. Bahay nila 'to eh."

["When I started living here, my first night's sleep was good. It wasn't scary. But I really felt that they were here maybe because they died here. This is their house, after all."]

"Pangalawang araw ko, narinig ko 'yung parang may naggagalawan ba. Parang naglalakad. 'Yung parang maliliit na hakbang ba ng mga bata," she recalled.

["On my second day, I heard what sounded like things moving around. Like someone was walking. Like the small steps of children."]

Ofelia also recalled lights flickering on and off in the bathroom. When her family could no longer tolerate the unusual activities, they left the house in 2024, two years after they had rented it in 2022.

In the same KMJS episode, Paranormal investigator Ed Caluag visited the Lipa Massacre House and asked the spirits present to knock on the door if they wanted to communicate, and the group heard knocks in response.

The investigation also captured unexplained sounds and reactions from the device.

A film dubbed "Lipa 'Arandia' Massacre: Lord, Deliver Us from Evil" was released in 1994 and was inspired by the true story of the Lipa Massacre. It was directed by the late Carlo J. Caparas and starred Vilma Santos, Joel Torre, John Regala, and Perla Bautista. —Hermes Joy Tunac/MGP, GMA Integrated News