DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur — A 31-year-old pottery business owner was shot dead by an unidentified gunman while tending to his shop late Friday afternoon, October 10, 2025, in Purok 2, Colonan, Barangay Matti, Digos City.
The victim was identified by the Digos City Police as Joey Albebiso Estomago, single and a resident of the same barangay.
According to the initial investigation, Estomago was attending to his pottery business at around 5:30 p.m. when the assailant suddenly approached him and fired multiple shots using a short firearm. The victim sustained fatal wounds to the head and body, causing his instantaneous death.
After the attack, the suspect immediately fled toward the direction of North Cotabato.
Responding police officers and forensic personnel from the Davao del Sur Forensic Unit recovered three (3) fired cartridge cases and one (1) fired bullet from the crime scene. These pieces of evidence are now undergoing ballistic examination and cross-matching as part of the ongoing investigation.
The victim’s body is currently at the Cosmic Funeral Parlor along Rizal Avenue, Barangay Zone 3, Digos City, pending post-mortem examination.
Authorities are pursuing all possible angles to determine the motive behind the killing and are now conducting a hot pursuit operation to identify and apprehend the gunman.
In a statement, PLTCOL Peter Glenn D. Ipong, Acting Chief of Police of Digos City Police Station, condemned the incident and called on the public to remain alert and cooperative.
“We urge residents to immediately report any suspicious persons or activities in their communities. Your vigilance is crucial in ensuring peace and order in Digos City,” Ipong said.
The brutal killing has sparked outrage among locals, with family and friends of the victim demanding swift justice for Estomago.
Police investigators continue to gather evidence and testimonies as the hunt for the suspect intensifies.