DATU MONTAWAL, Maguindanao del Sur — A retired police officer and his companion were shot dead in an ambush at around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, along the national highway in Barangay Pagagawan in this town, authorities confirmed.
Police identified the slain retired officer as retired Police Major Elias Dandan, married and a resident of Barangay Calawag in Pikit, Cotabato. His companion was identified as Raymund Bioy, who was also a resident of the same village.
According to Police Captain Nurjhasier Sali, chief of the Datu Montawal Municipal Police Station, authorities received a report about the shooting incident and immediately responded to the crime scene.
Initial investigation showed that the victims were on board a black Mitsubishi Strada pickup truck when they were suddenly fired upon by still-unidentified suspects. The attackers reportedly opened fire on the vehicle while it was traveling along the highway in Barangay Pagagawan.
Both victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds. They were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment but were later declared dead by the attending physician.
Crime scene investigators recovered seven empty shell casings from an undetermined type of firearm at the scene, indicating the intensity of the attack.
While processing the crime scene, the Philippine National Police unit in Datu Montawal quickly coordinated with nearby police stations and other units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP to launch follow-up operations aimed at identifying and apprehending the suspects.
As of this writing, police said they have yet to determine the motive behind the killing of the retired police officer and his companion. Authorities are continuing their investigation while pursuing possible leads related to the ambush.