KADAYANGAN, SGA-BARMM — What was supposed to be a solemn evening of prayer turned into a harrowing night of violence after a Muslim preacher was shot inside his own home in Sitio Sabpa, Barangay Kapinpilan, Kadayangan, Special Geographic Area (SGA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Saturday.
The victim was identified as Israel Silungan Padao, 43, an Ustadz and Imam known in the community for leading Salah and offering spiritual guidance to fellow Muslims.
According to reports, Padao was deep in prayer at around 7:00 p.m. when an unidentified assailant suddenly barged into his home and opened fire. He was hit in the hands and feet, but miraculously survived the attack.
Family members rushed him to Midsayap Hospital, where he is now recovering in stable condition. Residents said the incident has shaken their sense of safety, as the attack happened during a sacred act of worship, inside a place where people should feel most secure.
Police investigators recovered seven spent shells of a caliber .45 pistol from the scene. Authorities have yet to establish the motive but assured the public that a deeper probe is underway to bring the perpetrator to justice.
The shooting has stirred fear and sadness among locals, many of whom regard religious leaders as pillars of peace and moral guidance. For them, the attack was not just an assault on a man, but on the sanctity of faith itself.