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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Negros Occidental solon: Probe murder of single mom

Negros Occidental solon: Probe murder of single mom

Published Nov 1, 2025 08:50 pm
BENITEZ (FB)
BENITEZ (FB)
BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental third district Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez on Saturday asked the Philippine National Police and Department of Justice to thoroughly investigate the brutal killing of a 42-year-old single mother from Victorias City, Negros Occidental.
“I am calling for a full and transparent investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Philippine National Police (PNP),” Benitez said.
He sought administrative and criminal accountability through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Office of the Ombudsman as well as independent monitoring by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to ensure fairness and due process.
He said that his office is coordinating with local authorities to provide legal and psychosocial support to the victim’s family.
“Justice must be swift, transparent, and complete,” the lawmaker added.
Abang Lingkod partylist condemned the tragic and senseless death of the victim – Kristine Joyce Dignadice.
“Those responsible must be held fully accountable under the law,” it said in a statement.
The party-list said that this act of violence has deeply shaken the community and betrayed the very principles that those in uniform are sworn to uphold.
“Her life was cruelly taken by one who was duty-bound to protect, not destroy. No words can ease the pain now endured by her family and friends.”
From this shared grief, we must rise a firm and united to call for justice, it said.
“We will not stand idly by. We will not allow this cruelty to define those who continue to serve with honor, integrity, and compassion.”
The victim was found dead in a sugarcane field in Barangay Don Jorge Araneta, Bago City, Negros Occidental on Nov. 1, three days after her car was found abandoned with bloodstains in a sugarcane field in Barangay Gargato, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental on Oct. 29.
A 43-year-old policeman assigned to Police Station 5 as mobile patroller under Bacolod City Police Office voluntarily surrendered to authorities on Nov. 1 and reportedly admitted the disappearance and death of the victim.
Police Lt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), said the suspect, who is from Talisay City, Negros Occidental, will be transferred to the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-NIR so as not to influence the conduct of the investigation.
Malong said the suspect’s government-issued firearm was subjected to examination, and they are also awaiting the autopsy result of the victim to determine the cause of death.
Speculations on the relationship of the victim and the suspect circulated on social media but the police did not confirm anything yet pending further investigation.
Malong said they have yet to get a copy of the suspect’s extrajudicial confession.
Police Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod police director, said the suspect was assigned to the BCPO on Sept. 2024 after serving under the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.
He said that he briefly talked to the suspect at the crime scene in Bago City and the suspect said her death was unintentional.
Coronica has yet to learn the full details of the incident.
The PRO-NIR has yet to disclose the circumstances leading to the death of the victim, including how she was killed and ended up in Bago City when the alleged killing happened in Talisay City.

Related Tags

Deaths Murder Crime Single mom Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez Negros Occidental
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