GENERAL SANTOS CITY — A family narrowly escaped death after gunmen riding in tandem opened fire on their tricycle along Makar Road, Barangay Labangal, on Saturday evening, underscoring growing public anxiety over a series of shooting incidents in the city as the New Year begins.
The attack occurred at around 6:30 p.m. in Purok Mauswagon, along the national highway, when unidentified suspects aboard a motorcycle allegedly tailed the tricycle driven by a man known only as “Not-not,” a resident of Barangay Labangal. Police said the suspects suddenly pulled alongside the vehicle and fired multiple shots at close range, hitting the driver and his wife while their two young children were also caught in the line of fire.
Authorities said Not-not sustained gunshot wounds to his shoulder and abdomen, while his wife, identified as “Inday,” was shot in the leg. Their six-year-old son suffered facial injuries after being struck by shattered glass from the tricycle’s windshield, while their eight-year-old child was unharmed. The victims were rushed to a hospital and are currently recovering.
Investigators recovered five spent shell casings believed to be from a .45 caliber pistol at the scene. Initial findings show the family was on their way home to Purok Olarte when they were ambushed. The Makar Police Station has launched a manhunt and is pursuing all possible leads to identify the suspects and establish the motive behind the attack.
The shooting is the latest in a series of gun-related incidents reported in General Santos City in recent days, raising alarm among residents and authorities as 2026 opens. Police officials have assured the public of intensified patrols and heightened security measures, particularly along major thoroughfares, to curb violence and restore a sense of safety in the city.