Maguindanao del Sur – After months in hiding, newly elected Datu Salibo Mayor Khominie Bacol Sandigan, 36, voluntarily surrendered to the Talayan Municipal Police Station on September 9, 2025, to face charges of murder and frustrated murder.
Talayan Police Chief Major Michael Ameril confirmed that Sandigan, accompanied by his legal counsel Atty. Cesar John Dela Serna, personally turned himself in following prior coordination. According to Ameril, Sandigan’s lawyer first contacted their office to formalize the mayor’s intention to submit to authorities.
Sandigan has standing warrants of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 14 Acting Presiding Judge Kasan Kusain Abdulrakman of Cotabato City. The court records show that he faces multiple cases—two counts of murder (Criminal Case Nos. 2024-15709 and 2024-15710) and two counts of frustrated murder (Criminal Case Nos. 2024-15711 and 2024-15712). The murder cases are non-bailable, while each frustrated murder charge carries a recommended bail of ₱200,000.
The mayor, listed as the Top 7 most wanted person in Maguindanao del Sur at the provincial level, is implicated along with his father, former Datu Salibo Mayor Solaiman Sandigan, in the killing of former Datu Salibo town councilor Demson Silongan in April 2023. The attack, which occurred while Silongan was on his way to a session of the Sangguniang Bayan, was followed by a bombing that killed his brother, Barangay Pendetin Chairman Datu Manot Silongan, in Shariff Saydona. At the time of the incidents, Khominie Sandigan was serving as vice mayor of the municipality.
Following his surrender, Sandigan was placed in police custody and subsequently transferred to the provincial jail. He is set to be presented before the court that issued the warrants of arrest to formally begin trial proceedings.