Murder raps filed vs. cop linked to Kristine Joy Dignadice’s death

The Talisay Component City Police Station has filed a murder complaint against an officer involved in the death of a woman, whom he claimed was his lover.

Staff Sgt. Enrique Gonzalodo Jr., assigned at the Bacolod City Police Office Police Station 5, has been charged before the Talisay City Prosecutor’s Office after he issued an extra-judicial confession on his involvement in the disappearance and killing of Kristine Joy Dignadice, 42.

In a press conference on Monday, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office Director Col. Dennis Wenceslao said the 43-year-old Gonzalodo is now under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Negros Island Region (NIR) in Bacolod.

“All the documents pertaining to the case were already submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office yesterday (Nov. 2) at 6 p.m. in Talisay City. It is now in the hands of the prosecutor,” he added.

Wenceslao said that based on the extra-judicial confession, the married officer was in a relationship with Dignadice.

“Ayon po sa kanyang salaysay at confession, na syempre po kaharap ang kanyang counsel, meron po silang relasyon ng ating biktima (Based on his confession, in the presence of his counsel, he is in a relationship with the victim),” he added.

On the morning of Oct. 29, Gonzalodo and Dignadice met in Talisay City, where the policeman is residing. They were inside the car driven by Dignadice when they had an argument.

“Ang version po ng ating suspect, nagkaroon ng konting pagtatalo at ang kanyang baril ay nasa pagitan nila. Parang may attempt po na kunin ‘nung babae, binawi ng lalaki at biglang nangyari, at ‘dun na po hunantong ang pagkamatay ang ating biktma (According to the version of the suspect, there was a little argument and his gun was between them. It seems the woman attempted to take the gun, the man took it back and it happened suddenly, and that’s when the victim died),” Wenceslao said.

By afternoon of the same day, an abandoned gray sedan, identified to be owned by Dignadice, with bloodstains was found in Sitio So-ol, Barangay Gargato, Hinigaran.

After Dignadice was reported as missing, Gonzalodo surrendered on Nov. 1 and confessed the crime to Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, regional director of Police Regional Office-NIR.

The suspect said he left Dignadice’s body somewhere in Barangay Don Jorge Araneta, Bago City. Hours later, scene of the crime operatives found the body at a sugarcane field.* (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)