M’LANG, COTABATO — A man was shot dead in broad daylight by riding-in-tandem assailants along JP Laurel Street, Barangay Poblacion B, M’lang, Cotabato, on Wednesday morning, November 12, 2025.
The victim, identified as David Nicolas, a resident of the same area, died instantly after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body while driving his motorcycle.
Initial police reports said Nicolas was heading home from the market when he was tailed by two unidentified men riding a black Bajaj motorcycle. Witnesses recounted that the suspects overtook the victim’s motorcycle and exchanged gunfire with him. Nicolas reportedly managed to fire back before collapsing.
Responding officers recovered several spent shells of a caliber .45 pistol and a firearm near the victim’s body, suggesting that he was able to return fire before being fatally shot.
After the attack, the suspects—described as a driver wearing a white T-shirt and a masked backrider in black—sped off toward Barangay Inas.
Authorities have launched hot pursuit operations and intensified checkpoint monitoring across the municipality to locate and identify the perpetrators. Investigators are also probing the motive behind the killing.
Police have urged residents to remain vigilant and immediately report any information that could lead to the arrest of the gunmen.
This latest incident adds to the growing list of riding-in-tandem attacks in Mindanao, underscoring the urgent need for stronger community cooperation and consistent police visibility to prevent similar crimes.