DUMAGUETE CITY, July 14 -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) has created a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to investigate the recent fatal shooting of an American marine scientist and the alleged sexual assault of his Filipino partner in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.

Capt. Stephen Jaynard Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO), in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, said that SITG Carpenter is composed of police investigators, personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Provincial Anti-Cybercrime Team, Scene of the Crime Operatives, and other law enforcement units.

Initial police investigation indicates robbery as the possible motive after the intruders reportedly to...