COTABATO CITY — A 25-year-old payong-payong (tricycle) driver was shot dead in a broad daylight attack in a secluded area of Mother Barangay Poblacion, underscoring continuing concerns over gun violence in the city.
The victim was identified as Julhamin A. Abang, a resident of Purok Islam, Rosary Heights 6. Police said Abang was declared dead on arrival at Cotabato Regional and Medical Center after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
According to the initial report of Police Station 1, the shooting occurred at around 7:23 a.m. on Sunday, January 18, 2026, near a supermarket site in Mother Barangay Poblacion. Abang was either driving or waiting aboard his color pink payong-payong tricycle when an unidentified suspect suddenly approached and fired several shots at close range.
Investigators recovered five empty shell casings at the crime scene, believed to have come from a .45 caliber pistol. The suspect immediately fled in an unknown direction following the attack.
Responding police units — including personnel from the City Mobile Force Company (CMFC), Police Station 1, and nearby police visibility patrols — conducted a dragnet and lockdown operation shortly after the incident. However, as of this writing, the gunman remains at large.
Authorities said they are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby establishments, which they believe could help identify the suspect and establish the suspect’s escape route. While the investigation is ongoing, police noted that personal grudge is being considered as a possible motive behind the killing.
Family members of Abang, who rushed to the hospital, expressed grief and called for justice. The victim’s remains were later released to his relatives to be laid to rest in accordance with Islamic burial rites.
The incident adds to the growing list of gun-related killings in Cotabato City, renewing calls from residents for heightened police visibility, stricter firearm control, and faster resolution of shooting incidents to prevent further loss of life.