American, Filipina wife shot dead in Dumaguete home

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Police are investigating the motive behind the killing of an American national and his Filipina wife inside their home in Barangay Bajumpandan, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, on Wednesday.

The incident happened barely two months after 73-year-old American marine biologist Dr. Kent Carpenter was robbed and killed in his home in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.

Four suspects in Carpenter’s killing have since been accounted for and charged.

Police Capt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said the couple was found with gunshot wounds in the living room.

Based on the account of the couple’s helper, who was inside her quarters outside the main residence, two unidentified persons allegedly entered the victims’ home around 4 a.m.

However, Polinar said information remained limited as police investigators continued to probe the incident and process the crime scene.

“The investigation is still shallow. We need to dig deeper to be able to identify the perpetrators and establish the motive,” he added.

Polinar said it would be premature to disclose further information while the investigation is ongoing and authorities are focused on gathering evidence.

He said police are looking for closed-circuit television footage to aid their backtracking investigation.

Polinar said he could not yet disclose details about the victims’ background or whether robbery was a possible motive.

A day before the incident, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region congratulated Dumaguete City for its recognition by the World Travel Index as the Safest City in the Philippines for 2025 and 2026.

PRO-NIR credited the recognition to the collective efforts of the local government, law enforcement agencies, stakeholders, and residents in fostering a safe, peaceful, and welcoming community.