Just before dawn on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, gunmen entered a private residence in Purok Katubhan, Barangay Bajumpandan, Dumaguete City, and opened fire on an elderly couple — killing both on the spot. The attack, which occurred at around 4:00 a.m., claimed the lives of a 72-year-old foreign national and his 71-year-old Filipina wife, thrusting Dumaguete into the spotlight once again over the safety of foreign residents in the province.
Police have withheld the identities of both victims while the notification of their next of kin is still pending, according to authorities. The couple were confirmed residents of Barangay Bajumpandan at the time of the attack.
Report Filed Over Two Hours After the Shooting
Capt. Stephen Jaynard Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, confirmed that the Dumaguete City Police Station only received the official report of the incident at 6:08 a.m. — a gap of more than two hours from the estimated time the shooting took place.
Based on preliminary investigation, two male suspects carried out the attack and fled immediately after. Investigators from the Dumaguete City Police Station arrived at the scene Wednesday morning, cordoning off the residence as they processed evidence and gathered information from the surrounding area.
Capt. Polinar said follow-up operations are currently underway to identify, locate, and apprehend those responsible for the killings. The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office has indicated that this remains an active and ongoing investigation.
One Person of Interest Named; Motive Still Being Determined
Authorities have already identified a person of interest in connection with the double killing, Capt. Polinar disclosed. Despite this development, the motive behind the attack has not yet been established as of the time of this report. Investigators are continuing to pursue leads to determine what prompted the predawn assault on the elderly couple.
No arrests had been made as of the latest update from the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, though law enforcement expressed commitment to resolving the case promptly.
A Pattern Emerging: Second Foreign National Killed in Under Two Months
The September 2 killing is not an isolated incident. Less than two months prior, American marine biologist Kent Carpenter, 73, was fatally shot at his home in the neighboring municipality of Sibulan, Negros Oriental, on the night of July 12, 2026. According to police, three masked men forced their way into Carpenter’s residence, shot him in the head, and fled carrying a laptop, cash, and a backpack. Investigators treated that case as a robbery-homicide.
The Carpenter killing quickly drew international attention, prompting Negros Island Region police director Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño to publicly reassure both foreign visitors and local residents that the case was being pursued with the highest urgency. Suspects were apprehended within a week of the crime, and five individuals were eventually charged with robbery and homicide in connection with that case.
Now, with another foreign national killed inside his home in Dumaguete City — and the motive still unknown — law enforcement once again faces public pressure to act swiftly and decisively. The back-to-back incidents have reignited discussions around the security situation facing foreign nationals living in the province.
About Barangay Bajumpandan
The crime took place in Barangay Bajumpandan, one of the most populous barangays within Dumaguete City. According to the 2024 census, the barangay is home to 9,755 residents. Its size and residential density make it one of the more prominent communities in the city, with both local and foreign nationals among its inhabitants.
By the Numbers
- 4:00 a.m. — approximate time of the fatal shooting on September 2, 2026
- 6:08 a.m. — time the shooting was officially reported to the Dumaguete City Police Station
- 72 and 71 — ages of the male and female victims, respectively
- 9,755 — population of Barangay Bajumpandan per the 2024 census
- July 12, 2026 — date of the earlier fatal attack on American national Kent Carpenter in Sibulan
- 5 — individuals charged in the Carpenter robbery-homicide case
Why This Matters
Wednesday’s predawn killings represent the second fatal home invasion targeting a foreign national in the Dumaguete-Sibulan corridor in fewer than two months, intensifying scrutiny over the security environment for foreign residents in Negros Oriental. The earlier killing of Kent Carpenter had already drawn international concern and prompted senior police officials to make public assurances of safety — assurances that now face renewed pressure in light of this latest attack. With suspects still unidentified and the motive undetermined, the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office must demonstrate a swift and credible response to prevent further erosion of confidence among the foreign community in the region.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.
Source: Breaking News Negros Oriental (breakingnewsnegrosoriental.com)
