GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Police are now looking into the criminal background of the slain tricycle driver as a possible motive behind the deadly daylight shooting that killed him and his passenger along Aparente Street corner Salvani Street, Barangay City Heights, on Monday afternoon, February 2, 2026.
The victims were identified as Iven Miano Conde, 32, a tricycle driver and resident of Barangay Mabuhay, and his passenger Nhiezer Rolliene Jane U. Aguacito, 24, a registered nurse and alumna of Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU). Both were declared dead on arrival at a hospital after being ambushed by riding-in-tandem gunmen at around 2:30 p.m.
According to police, Aguacito had just finished grocery shopping at a mall and was on her way home when the attack occurred. Authorities stressed that she was not the intended target and was only caught in the crossfire.
Investigators disclosed that Conde had a prior criminal record, which authorities are now closely examining as a possible motive for the shooting. Police records show that Conde was arrested on November 20, 2023, in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat, for rape and child abuse charges. He was temporarily released after posting a ₱280,000 bail at the Regional Trial Court in Isulan.
Because of this background, police said they are seriously considering the angle of a personal grudge or retaliation connected to Conde’s past cases. Authorities emphasized, however, that this information is being cited solely as part of the ongoing investigation and not to justify the violent crime.
The General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO) has released images taken from CCTV footage, showing two suspects riding a red motorcycle, both wearing helmets and balaclava masks to conceal their identities.
Police Colonel Nicomedes Olaivar Jr., city police director, said authorities are conducting intensive backtracking operations, reviewing all available CCTV footage from possible escape routes and areas where the suspects may have passed after the shooting. Tracker teams have also been deployed to locate and arrest the perpetrators.
The killing marks the sixth shooting incident in General Santos City in just the first 33 days of 2026, raising serious alarm among residents and fueling growing concerns over public safety. Community members have expressed fear over the frequency of gun attacks, many of which have occurred in public areas and in broad daylight.
Aguacito’s death has drawn widespread grief and outrage, particularly after it was revealed that she left behind a one-year-old child. Her family, friends, and the SKSU community have renewed calls for justice, as social media continues to be flooded with messages demanding accountability and stronger measures against gun violence.
Police urged anyone with information related to the incident to coordinate with authorities, as efforts intensify to bring the suspects to justice.