MIDSAYAP, Cotabato — A late-night shooting incident left one man dead and another wounded after unidentified gunmen opened fire on two men riding a motorcycle Monday evening, March 2, 2026, in Sitio Tawi-Tawi, Barangay Central Labas, along the boundary of the Special Geographic Area (SGA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the municipality of Midsayap.
Police identified the fatality as Amiel Egaran Baguio, 31, single, and a resident of Sitio Philrock, Barangay Baguer in Libungan, North Cotabato. His companion, Kyle Estecomen Morales, 25, a backhoe operator from Barangay Tigbawan, Pigkawayan, North Cotabato, sustained gunshot wounds and is currently receiving medical treatment.
According to initial police reports, the attack occurred at around 8:25 p.m. while the victims were traveling on a black Honda Wave 100 motorcycle without a license plate. Investigators said the suspects suddenly appeared and fired multiple shots at the victims.
Baguio, who was driving the motorcycle, suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including a fatal shot to the head. He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Morales, who was riding pillion, survived the attack but sustained injuries and was rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Personnel from the Midsayap Municipal Police Station initially responded after receiving reports of the shooting. However, upon verification, authorities determined that the crime scene fell within the jurisdiction of the SGA in BARMM. This prompted coordination with the Kadayangan Municipal Police Station, which took over the investigation and crime scene processing.
During the investigation, authorities recovered seven spent shell casings believed to be from a .45 caliber firearm and two empty shells from an M16 rifle, suggesting that the assailants may have used high-powered weapons and possibly involved more than one attacker.
Police said the motive behind the attack remains undetermined, contrary to earlier circulating reports and speculation following the incident.
Authorities also urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information as the investigation continues, emphasizing that premature conclusions could cause confusion and unnecessary alarm.
Law enforcement units are now conducting follow-up operations and intelligence gathering to identify the suspects and determine the circumstances that led to the deadly shooting, which has raised security concerns in the boundary areas of North Cotabato and the SGA in BARMM.