DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao del Norte — A black Mitsubishi Montero loaded with smuggled cigarettes crashed into a house along the national highway in Barangay Tambak around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2025, leaving its front portion severely damaged and three residents slightly injured.
According to PNP-BARMM Spokesperson Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, the male driver immediately fled the scene following the collision. Authorities later discovered that the vehicle, bearing plate number NFH 4717, is registered under the name of a police officer from Marikina City.
The impact caused minor injuries to the house occupants identified as Bai Ali, 39, and her two young children, aged 5 and 2. They were immediately attended to and are now in stable condition.
Initial investigation revealed that the SUV was traveling from Barangay Awang toward Poblacion Dalican when the driver lost control, veered off the highway, and rammed into the residence.
During inspection, police recovered 14 boxes of smuggled cigarettes branded “Cannon” inside the vehicle. Authorities suspect that the cigarettes were illegally brought in from Indonesia and intended for distribution in the region.
The Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station has launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspect and is coordinating with the Bureau of Customs to determine whether the incident is connected to a broader cigarette smuggling network operating in Maguindanao del Norte and nearby provinces.