In today’s story, we will discuss the latest update on the case of a mother and her three children who perished in a fire. It was discovered that the mother and her children didn’t simply die due to an accidental fire. Eventually, it was revealed that the fire was not an accident but was allegedly started by the mother herself.

It’s heartbreaking to learn that it was the mother who ended the lives of her three children.

In this update, the mother of the deceased woman, Joyce, and her police husband also spoke out. In 2016, Joyce Rodrigo, 28 years old, began her relationship with Kimwel Aspero. Joyce was a student of BSIT Major in Business Analytics at STI College Munoz-EDSA and also worked in a mall. Kimwel, on the other hand, became a police corporal. The two got married in 2021.

Over time, Joyce and Kimwel had three sons. Their eldest child was Kimwel Zan, 5 years old; the second was Kyle, 3 years old; and their youngest was Cairo, just 1 year old at the time of the fire. Joyce was also a content creator, and her social media was filled with posts expressing her love for Kimwel and their three children. They often ate out and went on family trips.

But on May 15, 2025, a tragic incident shocked Barangay San Vicente, Bulacan. In the middle of the day, a fire broke out inside Joyce’s house. Sadly, Joyce and her children—Kimwel, Kyle, and Cairo—lost their lives. After the incident, the mother and children were not laid to rest together.

The three children were buried in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, under the care of their father, while the mother was laid to rest in Batangas, with her own family. It was believed that the children were buried separately from their mother.

In the investigation, it was revealed that Joyce allegedly doused Kimwel, Kyle, and Cairo with thinner before setting them on fire. The entire Philippines was shocked by this crime. Kimwel immediately filed charges against Joyce for the act of arson that led to the death of their children. The case was filed as parricide—the killing of a spouse, child, or family member.

However, Kimwel later withdrew the case after Joyce also died, followed by the death of one of the surviving children. A screenshot later circulated on social media showing that Joyce had borrowed money, saying the ₱2,500 budget given by her police husband for a whole month had already run out.

According to the barangay, Joyce had filed a report before the incident, claiming that she and her husband were being meddled with by Kimwel’s mother. Netizens speculated that Joyce might have been suffering from postpartum depression or severe mental illness. Some also claimed that Kimwel had other women, which might have driven Joyce into depression.

Kimwel released a video expressing his grief over the death of his wife and children. In tears, he asked God why his children had to be the ones to pay the price. In the video, he said he wished he had been the one taken instead.

Weeks after the tragedy, on June 6, 2025, Joyce’s mother, Cornelia Rodrigo, and her brother Mac Remirz, sought help from a senator’s program to shed light on the incident. Cornelia firmly believed that Joyce could not have killed her children. She expressed doubts and demanded a deeper investigation to uncover the truth and identify other possible suspects.

Cornelia insisted that Joyce was abandoned and left behind by Kimwel at the hospital in Bulacan, despite knowing the hospital lacked equipment and medicine. Meanwhile, their sons Kimwel and Kyle were transferred to East Avenue Medical Center.

On the program, Cornelia asked Kimwel why he left Joyce behind. Kimwel answered, “Should I have prioritized her over my children?” This deeply hurt Cornelia, who believed Joyce was also his responsibility.

One host suggested that maybe Kimwel treated Joyce that way because she caused the fire. Still, Cornelia believed Joyce should have been saved too.

Cornelia recalled how she was informed by Kimwel through a call that Joyce and the kids had died in the fire. She asked why he couldn’t save them—he was a police officer and knew how to handle emergencies.

Kimwel claimed he wasn’t home when the fire happened, as he was attending a hearing at Camp Crame. Cornelia wasn’t sure if this hearing was related to a case Joyce had filed against him. She said Joyce and her children had stayed at her home for three weeks in April 2025.

She often witnessed Joyce and Kimwel arguing during video calls, usually over alleged affairs. Cornelia even saw a video showing Joyce suffering injuries from Kimwel, though it wasn’t aired due to its sensitive nature.

Between January and February 2025, Joyce filed two complaints against Kimwel for repeated abuse. She even had a medical checkup to support her claims. Their eldest child testified during one of the barangay complaints.

According to the first responding fire officer, the case remains under investigation. Initially, the accounts were inconsistent due to varying witness statements. Their investigation ruled out arson, which typically targets property. In this case, Joyce allegedly targeted her children.

Still, the fire officer promised a deeper probe to determine if someone else was responsible. The Deputy Chief of Police of Sta. Maria, Bulacan also discussed their parallel investigation. He stated that, painfully, evidence pointed to Joyce as the perpetrator.

Two neighbors reportedly said that one of the children had told them Joyce harmed them. Joyce’s brother Mac questioned this, asking how a burned child could still speak. He and Cornelia remained doubtful of the police’s claims.

Kimwel then gave his statement, saying he still couldn’t believe Joyce could do such a thing, knowing how much she loved their children. His heart still breaks whenever he sees news reports about the tragedy.

Asked about allegations of abuse, Kimwel said that ever since they lived together, Joyce constantly accused him of having an affair. From 2017 until this year, Joyce reportedly continued these accusations, though Kimwel said she never proved them.

He endured it all to keep their family intact. According to him, even Cornelia knew about this and was told how Joyce constantly accused and insulted him.

Regarding the abuse case, Kimwel claimed Joyce provoked him into hurting her and even recorded it as evidence. In one incident, Joyce hit him multiple times while he was carrying their youngest child.

He said he became alarmed when even their baby got hurt. Joyce allegedly tried to gouge out his eyes in a fit of rage after reading a woman’s text message on his phone.

Kimwel explained that the woman was a victim in an accident whose case he was handling. During that fight, baby Cairo got hurt, and Kimwel admitted he lost control and hit Joyce. He said he warned Joyce she could have him jailed, but pleaded with her not to involve the kids—because he loved them deeply.

The program gave Kimwel a chance to address Cornelia. He said he hoped Cornelia would find the strength to face this trial. Despite the pain, he was trying to cope. He shared her grief, having lost not just his wife but his children too.

What hurt the most was that it was allegedly Joyce herself who took their lives. Kimwel said he kept silent all along to protect their family, unlike Cornelia, who broadcast everything.

He asked the public not to believe in baseless speculations and to respect their privacy. He emphasized how painful it was to be judged for something he didn’t do.

According to him, Cornelia knew how much he loved Joyce. He reminded her that they once went to church together and believed in God’s help. He asked for prayers, not judgment.

Cornelia, however, couldn’t keep silent. Her fury was apparent. She claimed Joyce went to the barangay twice.

The first was around midnight on May 15, when she reported her mother-in-law for confiscating her rice, groceries, and ATM. It wasn’t clarified if the ATM was where Kimwel’s salary was deposited.

At 3 a.m. the same day, Joyce filed another report against her mother-in-law, saying she was instigating fights between her and Kimwel.

Cornelia also revealed that Kimwel’s mother had long disapproved of Joyce. All these reports were filed just hours before the fire.

She also said Kimwel left her with a ₱92,000 hospital bill and other expenses related to Joyce’s treatment—debts Cornelia is still paying. She even used herself as collateral to get Joyce transferred to East Avenue Medical Center.

Cornelia’s greatest pain is that Kimwel never tried to save Joyce, even if she was the one who ended their children’s lives.

According to a psychologist, Joyce may have had major depression with psychotic features, not just postpartum depression. During the incident, she might have been hallucinating and no longer saw her children as they were.

That could explain why she set them on fire, which led to the fatal blaze. Individuals experiencing such hallucinations may act violently toward people they perceive as threats.

At the end of the program, Kimwel agreed to speak with the psychologist to uncover the complete truth behind what happened to Joyce and their children.