The entire province of Negros Occidental is currently gripped by a tragedy that has sent shockwaves through the community and across social media platforms. It is a crime rooted in forbidden love, infidelity, and an irreparable mistake.

The victim was Christine Joy Dignadise, a 42-year-old devoted mother and former nurse who had successfully transitioned into business as a freelance cosmetics agent.

The alleged perpetrator is a police officer, a man who swore an oath to enforce the law and protect the citizens, but who, in this instance, is accused of violating his sacred vow.

On October 29, 2025, an abandoned silver Hyundai Accent was discovered in Sitio Suol, Barangay Gargato, in the municipality of Hinigaran, Negros Occidental.

The vehicle was found on the side of a dirt road surrounded by a vast sugar cane plantation. If one stood in this area, they would be completely hidden by the stalks, which were taller than a person.

The abandoned car puzzled locals, as vehicles rarely ventured into this remote location, and it was strange to see it stopped there.

Driven by curiosity, they peered inside and were immediately alarmed to see bloodstains within the vehicle. They did not hesitate and immediately reported the discovery to the police.

Whose car was it, and where was the owner and driver? The car, with its visible bloodstains, was found on Wednesday afternoon, October 29.

Upon receiving the report, police immediately proceeded to the location to confirm the information. At 3:57 p.m. on October 29, 2025, they found the gray Hyundai Accent.

True to the report, they observed the windshield was damaged and there were bloodstains inside. Consequently, they immediately summoned the SOCO team from the Negros Occidental Police Office Forensic Unit.

Police Chief Master Sergeant Neil Habuni led the detailed investigation at the scene. They recovered several important personal belongings from the interior of the car.

However, the identity of the car’s owner remained a puzzle. The police promptly coordinated with the Land Transportation Office to trace the plate number, FAD-8113.

It was revealed that the vehicle was registered to a 70-year-old woman named Edith, a resident of Zone 3, Taal, Molo, Iloilo City.

Based on documents, the car had been sold on June 30, 2025, to a woman named Christian Joy Ed De Miguilo, 42 years old, a former nurse and resident of Victorias City, Negros Occidental.

As part of the ongoing investigation, police contacted the relatives of Christine Joy. Her siblings confirmed that the car and the recovered items belonged to Christine Joy Dignadise.

Where was Christine Joy? Why was her car left there? Christine Joy, known as “Lotlot,” was described by those who knew her as a helpful, reliable, and cheerful friend.

Furthermore, Christine Joy was a devoted single mother. Her siblings testified that she was loving, supportive, and hands-on with her only son.

No matter how busy she was with work, she always found a way to be present for important events in her son’s life. Lotlot, a nurse by profession, had served in critical areas during the height of the pandemic.

She transitioned from nursing to working as an auditor at College de Santa Ana de Victorias. Upon hearing the news, the family immediately tried to contact Christine Joy.

Their fears escalated when they were unable to reach her through any of her phone numbers or social media accounts.

They issued an appeal on social media, asking anyone who might have seen Christine Joy. She was last seen leaving her home at 5:00 a.m. on October 29, 2025, before her car was found later that afternoon.

They reached out to friends, relatives, and acquaintances, but no one knew her whereabouts. Despite the mounting anxiety, the family did not lose hope, praying that she was alive and safe.

They received another call from the police on November 1, 2025. During the observance of Undas (All Souls’ Day), Christine Joy was found.

Tragically, she was already a decomposing body. Police Regional Office Negros Island Region Director, Police Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay, stated that their meticulous investigation involved backtracking to determine the last person Christine Joy was with before her disappearance.

Initially, they were investigating a missing person case until a new twist emerged. General Ibay disclosed that on October 31, 2025, he received a phone call that would clarify what happened to Christian Joy Dignadise.

The call was from Police Staff Sergeant Enrique Gonzalodo Jr., a police staff sergeant assigned to Police Station 5 of the Bacolod City Police Office.

Brigadier General Ibay stated that Gonzalodo called because he wanted to surrender in connection with the disappearance of Christine Joy Dignadise.

Accompanied by his legal counsel, Gonzalodo surrendered to Brigadier General Ibay’s office, finally providing clarity on Christine Joy’s location.

The suspect, Gonzalodo, is currently stationed at Police Station 5 in Bacolod City. He is married with two children and was previously assigned to Victorias City, Pulupandan, and Talisay before being transferred to Bacolod.

In his extrajudicial confession, Gonzalodo admitted they had been in a long-term relationship. On October 29, 2025, he claimed he was with Christine Joy.

He was driving, and she was in the passenger seat. Although he did not specify their destination, camping gear was recovered inside the car, suggesting they might have been headed for a picnic date.

Gonzalodo claimed that while they were on the road, they had an argument, though he did not reveal the reason for the dispute.

He alleged that Christine Joy attempted to reach for his service firearm, which was resting between them. In a panic, he struggled to take the gun back, and it accidentally fired, hitting the victim.

The bullet struck her and exited through her neck, causing instant death. When asked what he did with the body, Gonzalodo claimed that because he panicked upon seeing his girlfriend lifeless, he pulled her out of the car.

He left her in the dense sugarcane plantation within the jurisdiction of Hacienda Weaver in Barangay George Araneta, Bago City.

General Ibay commented on the statement, noting that Christine Joy’s version of events is unknown because she is deceased.

The suspect’s version suggests a confrontation, and his gun was resting on the handbrake. He claimed there was an attempt by the woman to grab the gun, and when the man took it back, the incident suddenly happened.

Gonzalodo claimed this occurred between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. He stated that after realizing the victim was lifeless, many thoughts entered his mind, causing him to “lose it.” He claimed to be bothered by his conscience, which motivated his decision to surrender.

General Ibay added that they were “closing in on him,” suggesting the suspect may have felt the investigation was pointing directly at him, prompting his surrender.

Following the suspect’s statement, a team of police and SOCO immediately went to the area to recover the body. They quickly located the victim’s body at the exact spot Gonzalodo indicated.

Since she had been dead for several days, the body was already in the decomposition stage when found. In addition, Christine Joy’s sister, Jay, revealed a shocking detail.

On the morning of October 30, 2025, while they were frantically searching for her sister, the suspect came to their house.

Jay recounted that the man introduced himself as her sister’s boyfriend. When he identified himself as a police officer, they invited him inside.

The suspect claimed that on the day Christine Joy went missing, she met him in Barangay Granada around 5:00 a.m. She supposedly wanted him to accompany her to meet a buyer for her car.

However, he claimed he turned her down because he had just gotten off duty and was tired. That, he claimed, was the last time he saw her.

Christine Joy’s body was immediately subjected to a post-mortem examination and autopsy. The result confirmed that Christine Joy died due to a fatal gunshot wound.

The bullet entered her right shoulder and exited her left neck. The autopsy result contradicts Gonzalodo’s extrajudicial confession that the shooting was accidental.

Consequently, the suspect was immediately charged with murder. He will also face dismissal from the service.

The clear motive for the killing is still unknown. However, police suggest the case may be a crime of passion, where an argument possibly erupted because one of them wanted to end the relationship.

Among all those Christine Joy left behind, her son was the most deeply affected. He was the one who personally identified the watch recovered from his mother’s body—a final, heartbreaking task.