Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte — Two men were killed in separate shooting incidents in this town on the night of September 2, underscoring the alarming rise of gun-related violence in the province despite the ongoing gun ban in the Bangsamoro region ahead of its first parliamentary election.
The first incident occurred at around 9:20 p.m. in Barangay Tanuel, where 22-year-old Kamarudin Suga Salik was gunned down by unidentified assailants riding a mini van. Police said Salik was standing outside his father’s house when the suspects suddenly opened fire. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to the Cotabato Regional Medical Center (CRMC) but later died while undergoing treatment.
At the crime scene, authorities recovered eight spent shells of 5.56mm ammunition and two from a .45 caliber firearm.
Just over an hour later, another shooting took place at 10:42 p.m. in Sitio Sapot, Barangay Baka. The victim, identified as 35-year-old Zabiri Samama Malaguial, was attacked inside his home by still unidentified gunmen. He was brought by family members to CRMC but was declared dead on arrival. Seven spent shells of 5.56mm ammunition were recovered at the scene.
The Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police have launched a hot pursuit operation and are conducting a thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators and establish the motive behind the back-to-back killings.
Authorities expressed concern that violent attacks persist in Maguindanao del Norte despite the gun ban enforced in BARMM to ensure peace and order in the run-up to the region’s historic first parliamentary election.