ARAKAN, COTABATO — A barangay chairman and his companion, a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), were gunned down in a brazen daylight ambush on Saturday morning, January 17, 2026, in Sitio Butterfly, Barangay Malibatuan, in the municipality of Arakan, Cotabato.
The fatalities were identified as Barangay Chairman Jerry Bondad Prande of Malibatuan and his cousin Jemar (also spelled Gemar) Caro Prande, alias “Tagalog,” a CAFGU member. Both were residents of Barangay Malibatuan.
According to initial police reports and eyewitness accounts, Chairman Prande was riding as a backrider on a motorcycle driven by Jemar Prande when they were suddenly blocked by two motorcycles carrying unidentified gunmen. Upon reaching Sitio Butterfly—also reported in police logs as part of Purok New Caridad, Barangay Greenfield—the assailants opened fire without warning. The victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds in various parts of their bodies.
Investigators said the driver was hit first, causing him to lose control of the motorcycle and crash into a roadside canal. Both victims were declared dead on the spot.
The Arakan Municipal Police Station (MPS) has launched a full-scale investigation and an immediate hot pursuit operation against the suspects, who fled toward an unknown direction. Authorities are now examining possible motives, including personal, political, or security-related angles, and are reviewing witness statements and any available CCTV footage in nearby areas.
Family members, relatives, and residents of Barangay Malibatuan were left in deep mourning following the killing of Chairman Prande, described by locals as a familiar figure in the community. Police have assured the public that all leads will be pursued to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.