KABACAN, COTABATO — A former member of the CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) was gunned down in an early morning attack in Purok Namnama, Lower Paatan, Kabacan, Cotabato on Thursday, December 4, leaving his family demanding swift justice.
The victim was identified as Junnel Pascua Aquino, 27, single, and a resident of Barangay Kilada in Matalam, Cotabato. Aquino, who was riding his motorcycle at the time, was ambushed by an unidentified gunman past 7:00 a.m.
According to initial police reports, Aquino had just reached the area when the suspect suddenly opened fire. The gunman immediately fled after the attack.
Aquino was rushed to a nearby hospital in a bid to save his life, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. He sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Authorities recovered two fired cartridge cases of a .45-caliber pistol from the crime scene, believed to be the weapon used in the attack.
In a separate incident earlier in the same area, another unidentified motorcycle rider was shot while driving, highlighting growing security concerns in Lower Paatan — a place where a pandesal vendor previously suspected as an asset of authorities was also killed.
Police investigators are now working to determine the motive behind Aquino’s killing and to identify the suspects. The family, meanwhile, is calling on law enforcers to act swiftly and ensure justice is served.
The investigation remains ongoing. Further updates will follow as authorities deepen their probe into the string of shootings in Kabacan.