NAKAKAKILABOT ANG GINAWA NG AMERIKANO SA KANYANG PINAY NA ASAWA AT ANAK!!! 

“Like rice about to be eaten but then spat out when it’s too hot”—that’s how some people treat marriage. For religious individuals, marriage is not just a lifetime commitment. They believe it is a sacred union between two people and is often referred to as a “holy covenant,” especially in the Philippines where most people are Roman Catholics.

In recent years, some lawmakers have tried to pass the Divorce Bill, which would give women or men the legal right to separate from their spouses. Public reaction is divided: those who want to leave abusive partners support the bill, but others believe that no matter how hard marriage becomes, couples should endure and hope their partners will eventually change.

One person who believes in the sanctity of marriage is Roda Fontanilla, a Filipina from a simple family in the province of Abra. There’s not much known about her early life, but she’s been described as cheerful and friendly. A glance at her social media suggests that her strong belief in marriage as sacred may be influenced by her religion. Her faith was so strong that she didn’t miss the chance to go to Bethel—a significant place for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Like most Filipinos, Roda eventually looked for work when she came of age. She was not just a good daughter but also naturally funny. If you grew up in a province, you’d know how simple life can be there. But Roda’s life changed when she met an American named Jeffrey Leel, or “Jeff” as he’s known. He was from Woodland, Washington State. Like many in interracial relationships, they met online. It’s unclear how long they talked before Jeff decided to fly to the Philippines to meet her in person.

As expected, when they met at the airport, they immediately fell for each other. They spent a few days in Manila before heading to Roda’s province, where Jeff was introduced not only to her family but to her entire clan. His arrival brought joy to the community. Unlike other foreigners, Jeff wasn’t picky—he slept where they slept and ate what was served.

Photos showed Jeff being warmly welcomed by the Fontanilla family. They ate out, went to the beach, sang karaoke, danced, and even the kids loved him. Jeff’s parents supported his trip—not just because Roda was Filipina, but because she made him happy. While in the Philippines, Jeff got to know Roda better. She was kind, funny, friendly, and loved children—qualities Jeff appreciated. Roda was not ashamed to show him her life in the province. In one photo, she’s seen cooking using firewood. Jeff even took pictures of their livelihood—corn farming and raising goats.

This lifestyle was a far cry from the fast-paced, work-focused life Jeff had in the U.S. Visiting the Philippines deepened Jeff’s feelings for Roda. She wasn’t just an ideal wife—she was what he needed: simple and loving. So, it didn’t surprise people when he proposed in 2010. Their wedding was filled with joy. When Jeff returned to the U.S., he immediately worked on Roda’s papers to bring her to Washington.

While waiting for the visa, Jeff didn’t forget to show his love—sending her money and flowers, which Roda appreciated. Almost a year later, in November 2011, Roda finally arrived in the U.S. Jeff wasted no time in taking her around—tourist spots, malls, Costco, Walmart. He even cooked American food for her. That December, Roda experienced snow for the first time.

Though Roda now had a better life in the U.S., Jeff remained the sweet, loving husband her family was grateful for. Still, Roda sometimes felt homesick. To ease it, she sought out other Filipinas nearby and warmly welcomed them into her home with Jeff’s help. Over time, she learned to drive. Their happiness grew when Roda became pregnant. In 2012, she gave birth to Jasmine.

Although raising a child in America is different, Roda remained strong. With teamwork, they raised their daughter well and ensured her needs were met. Roda also made sure Jasmine stayed connected to Filipino culture. Her relatives were happy—Roda’s dreams had come true.

But in 2017, shortly after their joyful 7th wedding anniversary, Roda’s family in the Philippines was shocked when authorities arrested Jeff and filed multiple charges against him. Reports said bail was set at $1 million. Americans quickly found his social media and flooded it with comments.

Because Filipinos didn’t know the full story, rumors spread. One woman speculated that Roda and Jeff had marital problems or Jasmine wasn’t Jeff’s biological daughter because she didn’t resemble him. She theorized that either Jeff lost control and harmed Roda, or Roda had an affair that triggered a violent reaction.

Regardless, public sentiment turned against Jeff. People were furious—clear proof that what happened was serious. When news reached the Philippines, married Filipinas with foreign spouses offered warnings. Some advised caution; others warned that marrying foreigners could turn women into maids abroad.

Some blamed Roda, questioning her reasons for marrying Jeff. To understand, we need to go back to 2010. In their wedding photos, it was clear Jeff did everything to give Roda a decent ceremony. Locals thought Jeff was wealthy, but they didn’t know he charged everything—plane tickets, food, travel—to his credit card.

While credit card use is normal in the U.S., Jeff overspent and had already filed for bankruptcy in 2003. This meant he had trouble borrowing and paid high interest rates. It’s unknown if his credit score had improved by the time he met Roda. Still, Jeff didn’t care about costs. Roda and her relatives enjoyed the outings and meals—unaware everything was on credit.

Back in the U.S., Jeff worked double shifts or took a second job to pay off debts. It’s believed he was a welder. Welding pays decently in Washington, but he reportedly didn’t save much. When Roda arrived in the U.S., they first lived in an apartment. Later, they moved to a duplex—shared housing—alongside the family of German Elano, whose wife was Roda’s best friend.

The two families lived peacefully for five years. Once Jasmine could be left alone, Roda started working to help with expenses. In their free time, they vacationed. Photos showed a happy, contented life despite the modest setup.

Then came February 10. Roda went to work at Walmart while Jeff and Jasmine stayed home. That day, a man who claimed to be Jeff’s former boss approached her—with detectives. Authorities then interviewed Roda while rushing to arrest Jeff at their home.

According to court documents, Jeff had plotted to have Roda and Jasmine killed. While Roda worked, Jeff texted a man named Shane, saying he wanted to “execute the plan.” He even promised to split the $1.5 million from life insurance—$1M for Roda, $500K for Jasmine. He sent Shane their daily schedules and suggested staging it as a robbery gone wrong.

But Jeff’s plan backfired. Instead of texting Shane, he accidentally sent it to his former boss, who immediately contacted authorities. They raided the home and arrested Jeff.

German, the housemate, said he wasn’t home during the arrest but was deeply disturbed—what if Shane broke in and harmed his own family too?

Roda was shocked. She had no idea her husband was plotting their deaths over money. She told detectives that while they argued like any couple—mainly over Jeff being unemployed—she never thought he’d harm them. She saw no red flags and denied being abused.

Initially, Jeff denied sending the text, then later admitted writing it—but claimed he never sent it and had only saved it as a draft. He said it was like therapy—a way to vent frustrations over money problems.

Despite Jeff’s strange reasoning, authorities still charged him. Once the text was released, people bombarded his Facebook with hate. Some called him “demon,” others wished Roda a new, better partner.

But that wish would not come true.

A 2020 report confirmed that all charges were dropped. The first reason: Roda testified that she was 100% sure Jeff would never hurt her or their child. She also said she didn’t know anyone named Shane and denied any abuse.

The second reason: despite searching their home and Jeff’s phone, investigators found no evidence of Shane—he may have been a figment of Jeff’s imagination. With no proof and Roda’s defense, prosecutors had no choice but to drop the charges.

As of this recording, Roda and Jeff remain married and live with their daughter in Monroe, Washington.