CARMEN, COTABATO — A businessman and former vice mayoralty candidate was gunned down by unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants in Sitio Galay, Barangay Kibayao, Carmen, Cotabato, late Friday afternoon, October 24, 2025 — marking yet another violent incident in the restive region of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The victim was identified as Alex Palao, 50, a resident of Barangay Kibayao and a former candidate for vice mayor of Carmen in the Province of North Cotabato. His nephew, Abdulsadar “Abdul” Sanchez, 18, of Simuni, Kabacan, North Cotabato, survived the attack.
According to police reports, the victims were on their way home at around 5:00 p.m. when two unidentified suspects aboard a motorcycle blocked their path and opened fire. Palao was hit multiple times, while his nephew managed to escape unscathed. The businessman was rushed to Carmen Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by attending physician Dr. Jazelle Kate D. Baizon.
Authorities from PNP-BARMM, led by spokesperson Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, confirmed the incident and said a manhunt is underway to identify and arrest the perpetrators. Investigators are still determining the motive behind the shooting, though early reports suggest it may be linked to local political or business disputes — both common triggers of violence in the area.
The attack adds to the growing list of violent incidents plaguing the SGA and nearby towns in Cotabato, where unresolved political rivalries, clan feuds, and criminal operations continue to claim lives despite intensified police and military efforts.
Community leaders have expressed alarm over the spate of killings that have disrupted peace efforts in the region. Residents are once again calling on authorities and BARMM officials to strengthen law enforcement presence and pursue justice for victims of politically and criminally motivated violence.
As investigations continue, the death of Alex Palao serves as a grim reminder of the persistent cycle of violence that continues to haunt parts of Mindanao — where power, politics, and business often converge in deadly consequence.