January 31, 2025 – Another fatal shooting incident took place in the town of Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur on Friday, adding to the growing number of gun-related killings in the province.
According to an initial report from local authorities on Friday afternoon, the victim, Jobert Dumanlag, a resident of San Emmanuel in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, was shot and killed instantly due to multiple gunshot wounds.
The attack occurred in Barangay Pupol, Buluan, the location of the provincial capitol of Maguindanao del Sur. Buluan serves as the administrative capital of the province, which is one of five under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Brig. Gen. Romeo Juan Macapaz, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, reported to Catholic Station DXMS in Cotabato City that ten people had already been killed in gun-related incidents in Maguindanao del Sur since the nationwide gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) began on January 12. With the killing of Dumanlag, the number of shooting-related fatalities in the province has now risen to eleven.
Macapaz further explained that Maguindanao del Sur has recorded the highest number of shooting incidents in the region compared to Maguindanao del Norte, which has reported six such cases since January 12. Meanwhile, the provinces of Basilan and Lanao del Sur each recorded five fatal shooting incidents, while Cotabato City reported only one case.
Authorities are conducting further investigations into these incidents as they work to curb the rising gun-related violence in the region.