MAWAB, Davao de Oro — A routine delivery turned deadly Tuesday night after a truck helper was shot and killed during an alleged robbery along the National Highway in Barangay Tuboran, Mawab, authorities said.
Police identified the incident as occurring shortly after 7 p.m. on January 27, 2026, when an Isuzu Forward truck traveling from Trento, Agusan del Sur was blocked by armed suspects while en route through the area. The vehicle was carrying oxygen and acetylene tanks and was occupied by a driver and two helpers.
According to the Mawab Municipal Police Station and the Davao de Oro Police Provincial Office, suspects—reported to be armed and riding a motorcycle—suddenly blocked the highway, fired their weapons, and declared a robbery. Fearing for their lives, the driver and the two helpers jumped off the truck and ran.
As they fled, one of the suspects allegedly opened fire. One helper was struck by gunfire and died on the spot, while the assailants immediately fled in an unknown direction without taking any cash or cargo.
Responding officers recovered three spent .45 caliber cartridge cases at the crime scene, along with ₱108,100 in cash, which police said remained untouched—underscoring the brazenness and violence of the attack despite the absence of actual theft.
The victim’s body was transported to a funeral home in Mawab for proper disposition.
Authorities have launched a manhunt and are pursuing all leads to identify the suspects and establish the motive behind the attack. Investigators are also reviewing whether the incident was a failed robbery or a targeted ambush.
The killing has renewed concerns over highway security in parts of Davao de Oro, particularly for workers transporting industrial goods at night. Police urged motorists and transport operators to exercise heightened vigilance and report suspicious activity immediately.
The investigation is ongoing.