BAROBO, Surigao del Sur — Barobo Mayor Ronito L. Martizano narrowly survived an assassination attempt Tuesday afternoon after unidentified gunmen ambushed his convoy in Barangay Causwagan, Barobo, Surigao del Sur, authorities confirmed.
Police reports said the attack occurred at around 4:10 p.m. on February 3, 2026, while Mayor Martizano was traveling aboard a Toyota Hi Ace van with his close-in security detail from Sitio Panaraga, Barangay Gamut, en route to the poblacion. Upon reaching a stretch of road in Barangay Causwagan, the mayor’s vehicle was suddenly blocked by a gray Toyota car, and at least one motorcycle, prompting the assailants to open fire.
An undetermined number of armed men reportedly rained bullets on the van using short and long firearms, leaving multiple bullet holes on the front and rear portions of the vehicle—evidence of the intensity of the attack. After the shooting, the suspects fled at high speed toward the direction of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.
Mayor Martizano sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder, while his security escort, PFC Khevin Mark Claridad, 29, a member of the 67th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, was wounded in the arm. Both were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital and were reported to be in stable condition following prompt medical treatment.
In an official statement, authorities said the incident was reported at 4:20 p.m., with responding units arriving at the scene within minutes. A Special Investigation Task Group (SITG Martizano) has been activated to lead the probe, as police intensified their hot pursuit operations to track down the perpetrators.
Investigators disclosed that a person of interest is now under monitoring and validation, while forensic teams continue to gather evidence from the crime scene, including ballistic fragments and possible CCTV footage from nearby areas.
Police have appealed to the public to cooperate with authorities by reporting any information, eyewitness accounts, or video recordings that could help identify the attackers and establish the motive behind the ambush.
The incident has raised serious security concerns in the area, prompting law enforcement agencies to tighten security measures in Barobo and neighboring towns.
Mayor Martizano recently made headlines for leading operations against alleged illegal mining activities in Barangay Tambis, Barobo, involving foreign nationals. While authorities have not officially linked the ambush to these operations, investigators are not ruling out any angle, including retaliation related to the mayor’s crackdown on illegal activities.
Authorities urged the public and media to rely only on official updates and refrain from spreading unverified information as the investigation continues.