Police file complaint over Dumaguete couple’s killing

BACOLOD CITY — Police have filed a robbery with homicide complaint with the city prosecutor’s office against a suspect linked to the killing of a 72-year-old American and his 71-year-old Filipina wife in Barangay Bajumpandan, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

Capt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO), said the complaint was filed last week based on the account of the couple’s 55-year-old helper.

Polinar said the suspect allegedly hogtied the helper in her room, which is separate from the couple’s main house. Police were withholding the suspect’s identity pending the issuance of an arrest warrant, he said.

Filing a complaint with a prosecutor does not automatically result in an arrest warrant. A judge must independently evaluate the evidence and determine whether probable cause exists to issue one.

Polinar said arresting the suspect could help authorities identify other possible perpetrators. He declined to speculate further while the investigation was ongoing.

Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria recently directed Col. Jonathan Abella, NORPPO’s newly assigned acting provincial director, to catch the perpetrators.

Authorities are investigating robbery after PHP 60,000 in cash, assorted jewelry and a laptop were reported missing from the couple’s home on Sept. 2.

The couple were found in their living room with one gunshot wound each, believed to have been inflicted with a .45-caliber firearm, according to police.

Investigators are pursuing a lead but acknowledged difficulties, particularly the absence of surveillance cameras.

The killings occurred about two months after American marine biologist Kent Carpenter was killed during a reported robbery at his home in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, in July.