CARMEN, COTABATO – A 50-year-old barangay treasurer was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen outside his home in Barangay Kibudtungan, Carmen, Cotabato, on Saturday evening, November 8.
The victim, identified as Norodin G. Sapal, barangay treasurer of Barangay Palanggalan and a resident of Sitio Tawagon, Purok 6, was sitting outside his house around 6 p.m. when two armed assailants on board a black Bajaj motorcycle approached and opened fire multiple times.
Residents and rescuers rushed Sapal to a nearby hospital, but attending physicians declared him dead on arrival due to multiple gunshot wounds.
Responding police officers from the Carmen Municipal Police Station recovered several spent shells from a caliber .45 pistol believed to have been used in the attack. Investigators said the gunmen immediately fled toward an unknown direction after the shooting.
Police have launched a hot pursuit operation and set up checkpoints in coordination with nearby police units and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to track down the suspects. Authorities are also reviewing CCTV footage and gathering testimonies from witnesses to identify the perpetrators and establish the motive behind the killing.
The victim’s family, in accordance with Islamic tradition, declined a post-mortem examination to allow for Sapal’s burial within 24 hours.
Authorities are appealing to anyone with information about the incident to come forward and help bring justice to the slain barangay official, who was known in the community not only for his public service but also for his involvement in local basketball activities.