AN AMERICAN national and his Filipina wife were found dead inside their home at around 4 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Barangay Bajumpandan, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, in what authorities believe was a robbery.
The Dumaguete City Police Station first received a call through the 911 hotline at 6:08 a.m. reporting a shooting inside the victims’ residence.
Police immediately responded and found the couple, Mark and Elsie Duell, lying inside the house, covered in their own blood and suffering from gunshot wounds.
The couple in their 70s sustained multiple gunshot wounds from an undetermined caliber of firearm.
Based on the initial investigation and the statement of the victims’ caretaker, the suspects barged into the maid’s quarters shortly after midnight and, at gunpoint, asked where the couple kept their money.
The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) withheld further details about what happened next, saying the investigation is still ongoing.
However, authorities said information gathered from their inspection of the victims’ residence showed that personal belongings, an estimated P60,000 in cash, electronic devices, identification cards and other items were reportedly taken by the suspects.
Police are still conducting an inventory to determine what other belongings of the victims may be missing.
Members of the Scene of the Crime Operation (Soco) recovered firearm cartridges, slugs and unused ammunition from the scene.
The recovered evidence will undergo cross-matching and ballistic examination as part of the continuing investigation.
Person of interest
Lt. Col. Don Richmond Conag, chief of the Dumaguete City Police Station, said investigators have identified two persons of interest in the case.
Conag, however, declined to elaborate, saying the Special Investigation Task Group Duell would handle information releases to the media.
He said the helper remains under police custody and is being treated as the lone witness to the incident.
She also underwent a medico-legal examination to document her injuries and help corroborate her statement.
The motive for the killings remains undetermined.
Meanwhile, Col. Jonathan Abella, acting police director of Negros Oriental, condemned the killings and assured the public that the task group would pursue follow-up operations, gather evidence and investigate all possible motives to identify and arrest those responsible.
“We assure the community that your safety remains our absolute priority, and we will not allow lawlessness to undermine the peace in our province,” Abella said.
He appealed to anyone with information or video footage related to the incident to coordinate with the police. /
