LAMITAN CITY, BASILAN – A local businessman was killed in a brazen shooting incident along Balobo Highway on Thursday afternoon, September 25, 2025, sending shockwaves through the community and raising fresh concerns over public safety in the city.
The victim, identified as Alvin Sarcia, a resident of Barangay Lo-ok, was traveling home with his wife in their private vehicle when two armed suspects on a motorcycle intercepted them around 5:30 p.m. in Barangay Balobo.
According to initial reports from the Lamitan City Police Station (LCPS), the assailants forced the couple to stop, confronted them briefly, and then opened fire at close range. Sarcia sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to Lamitan District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His wife was unharmed.
Police said the suspects, described only as motorcycle-riding men wearing jackets, quickly fled the scene after the attack. A manhunt has been launched to track down the perpetrators, while investigators are now reviewing forensic evidence and witness accounts to establish the motive. Authorities are not ruling out possibilities such as personal grudges, business-related disputes, or links to organized crime.
In a statement, Lamitan City Police Chief Lt. Col. Elmer Solon vowed swift action:
“We are exhausting all resources to bring the perpetrators to justice. We urge anyone with information—no matter how small—to contact the LCPS immediately. Community cooperation is vital to resolving this tragedy.”
The killing has prompted urgent calls from barangay officials for heightened security measures, including intensified police patrols along highways and stricter monitoring of motorcycle riders, often used in riding-in-tandem crimes.
Residents of Lamitan expressed alarm over the attack, describing it as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of civilians to sudden violence.
As of press time, investigators continue to piece together the circumstances leading to Sarcia’s killing, while his family and the community await justice.