GENERAL SANTOS CITY — What should have been an ordinary school morning turned into a scene of violence after a father was shot multiple times while ferrying his children to school, leaving his Grade 3 son wounded after being caught in the crossfire early Monday morning, February 2, 2026, in Barangay Ligaya, this city.
The victim, identified by police as Raffy Buday Lambac, 35, a married businessman and cattle agent engaged in buy-and-sell transactions, was driving his motorized tricycle along Manga Street, Purok 5, at around 7:30–7:40 a.m. with his three school-aged children onboard.
According to the initial report of Police Station 3, Lambac briefly stopped in front of Raymond Store to make a purchase when two unidentified men riding a green Yamaha Aerox motorcycle suddenly pulled up beside him. Without warning, the backrider—believed to be the gunman—opened fire, hitting Lambac multiple times in different parts of his body.
In the course of the attack, Lambac’s Grade 3 son was also struck by a bullet in the leg, prompting panic among bystanders and residents in the area.
The suspects immediately fled the scene at high speed in an unknown direction. Witnesses told police that both suspects were wearing black jackets, while the driver remained focused on maneuvering the motorcycle as the gunman carried out the shooting.
Responding residents rushed the injured father and child to a nearby hospital, where Lambac was reported to be in critical condition, while his son received treatment for a gunshot wound to the leg.
Crime scene investigators later recovered five spent shell casings believed to be from a .45-caliber firearm, indicating the severity of the attack.
Police confirmed that the incident marks the fifth shooting case recorded in General Santos City since the start of 2026, raising renewed concerns over public safety, especially as the attack occurred during peak school hours and in a residential area.
Authorities are now conducting an in-depth investigation, including the review of CCTV footage, interviews with witnesses, and coordination with the victim’s family to determine possible motives behind the shooting and identify the suspects.
Police Station 3 urged anyone with information related to the incident to come forward, stressing that the involvement of a child in the shooting underscores the urgency of bringing the perpetrators to justice.