ALEOSAN, Cotabato — Two collectors of a lending company were injured after being shot in broad daylight by still unidentified gunmen while conducting collection duties in Barangay New Panay on Monday, March 23.
The victims, identified only by the Joshua Juliano and his female co-worker known by the alias “Ging,” were reportedly collecting payments when the attack occurred around 12:20 p.m. in Purok 1 of the said barangay.
Initial investigation by the Aleosan Municipal Police Station revealed that the two were either waiting for clients or actively collecting debts when three armed men suddenly approached and opened fire at close range. Authorities said the suspects fired at least three shots, hitting both victims.
Witnesses said the assailants were wearing black jackets and fled immediately after the shooting aboard a black Bajaj 125 motorcycle, heading toward Barangay Luanan in Aleosan and possibly toward Gokotan in nearby Pikit town.
The incident was first reported to authorities through a phone call from a concerned citizen, prompting the immediate deployment of the police’s Alpha Team. However, responding officers no longer found the victims at the scene as they had already been rushed to the nearest hospital by residents.
Police have yet to determine the motive behind the attack, though investigators are exploring possible links to the victims’ work as collectors for a lending company based in Midsayap, Cotabato.
A manhunt operation is now underway as authorities pursue the suspects and gather further evidence that could lead to their identification and arrest.
The victims remain under medical care as of this writing.
The shooting adds to growing concerns over the safety of field collectors and civilians in parts of Cotabato, as authorities continue to grapple with sporadic incidents of gun violence in the region.