The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has stepped into the case of a Bacolod City police officer accused of involvement in the disappearance and killing of businesswoman Kristine Joy Dignadice in Negros Occidental.

Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan said Sunday that he has ordered the Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS) to launch a motu proprio probe, underscoring that the agency will act swiftly and independently.

“This involves an active member of the police force, and the Napolcom will ensure due process while holding the officer fully accountable,” Calinisan said. “The administrative case will proceed separately from any criminal charges filed in court.”

Dignadice, 42, a resident of Victorias City, was reported missing after her Hyundai Accent sedan was found blood-stained and abandoned in Hinigaran on 29 October.

The suspect — a police officer tagged as the prime suspect — surrendered on 1 November to Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, Regional Director of Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region, at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City.

While investigators are still determining the motive, SOCO and a Special Investigation Team continue their search and recovery operations for the victim’s remains.

Brig. Gen. Ibay called the surrender “a significant breakthrough,” reaffirming the PNP’s commitment to integrity, transparency, and accountability within its ranks.

Calinisan, for his part, vowed that Napolcom would remain firm in its duty to weed out abusive officers and ensure that justice is served — both for the victim and for the institution’s integrity.