Correction (October 17, 2026): An earlier version of this story, based on initial police statements, reported two dead and two wounded and said the victims were from Barangay Mansagumayon. The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) reports one dead, one wounded, one missing and one unharmed, and says the man killed was from Barangay Talalak, Santa Catalina. This story has been updated with the PRO-NIR release.
SANTA CATALINA, Negros Oriental — Police have arrested two suspects in a shooting early Friday, October 16, in a remote upland area of Barangay Buenavista that left one man dead, one wounded and one still missing, the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said.
According to PRO-NIR, the shooting happened at about 3 a.m. in Sitio Cang-alaw, Barangay Buenavista. Four men were at the site. One was killed, one was hit by gunfire, one escaped unharmed and one remains unaccounted for.
Revised toll
The PRO-NIR account differs from earlier police statements. An initial Santa Catalina police report, carried by several outlets, listed three dead and one wounded. The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) later said two were killed and two wounded. PRO-NIR's release confirms one fatality and says police are still trying to verify the status and whereabouts of the missing victim.
What police found
Santa Catalina police received a report of the shooting at about 5:30 a.m. They coordinated with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for emergency assistance and with barangay officials, then continued to the scene on foot, according to PRO-NIR.
On the way, police learned that the wounded victim had already been brought to Bayawan District Hospital.
At the scene, police found the body of a 59-year-old man from Barangay Talalak, Santa Catalina, with a gunshot wound to the head. Crime scene investigators recovered two fired 9mm cartridge cases and two fired .45-caliber cartridge cases, PRO-NIR said.
Victim's account
Police based their initial findings on the account of the victim who escaped unharmed. He said the victims were preparing to sleep when two men, identified by police only as "Jos" and "Wil," arrived allegedly drunk.
While one victim was talking with the two men, the others were lying in a makeshift sleeping area. The suspects allegedly offered to sell a firearm to one of the victims. When he refused, they allegedly cocked their guns and fired several shots at the group, according to the police account.
The unharmed victim fled toward a nearby river, and the wounded victim also managed to escape.
Possible motive
Investigators are looking into a land boundary dispute as a possible motive, PRO-NIR said. It cited an earlier disagreement between the family of one victim and a relative of one suspect over property boundaries and the harvesting of coconut trees on the disputed land. Police said the motive is still being investigated.
Arrests
A joint hot pursuit team arrested "Jos" at about 2:16 p.m. on October 16 in Sitio Palali, Barangay San Isidro, Pamplona. The team was led by the Santa Catalina Municipal Police Station, with units from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, the Regional Intelligence Division, NOrPPO's 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company and Provincial Intelligence Unit, and the Regional Public Safety Battalion. A victim-witness identified him as one of the alleged gunmen, police said.
The second suspect, "Wil," surrendered at about 10:54 p.m. the same day at the home of Barangay Buenavista Captain Enarciso Delazerna Jr. He was brought to the Santa Catalina police station, where a victim-witness also identified him, according to PRO-NIR.
Police said both suspects were informed of the nature of their arrest and of their constitutional rights in a language they understand.
Investigation continues
PRO-NIR Regional Director Police Brigadier General Rudecindo Reales said he had ordered personnel to intensify the investigation and take all lawful measures to find the missing victim.
"The arrest of the two suspects is an important development, but our work does not end there," Reales said.
Police said follow-up work and case documentation are ongoing.
Photo: PNP · Source: Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR)