TALAKAG, Bukidnon — A tourist was wounded after being shot by an unidentified gunman while taking photos at a popular waterfall in Sitio Dagunalan, Barangay Lantud, in the municipality of Talakag on the morning of Feb. 28, 2026, authorities said.
The victim, identified only by police as alias “Juven,” 38, sustained multiple gunshot wounds while posing for photographs near the well-known Abaga ta Bayug Falls, a site frequently visited by tourists exploring the upland attractions of Bukidnon.
According to the initial investigation by the local police, the incident occurred at around 8 a.m. when a tour guide was taking photos of a group of visitors near the waterfall. The guide suddenly heard a gunshot, prompting the tourists to scatter and run in different directions for safety.
Moments later, the tour guide noticed that one of the tourists had collapsed to the ground and was already bleeding heavily. The guide immediately rushed to the control point of the tourist site to seek help and report the incident to authorities.
Further inquiry with other tour guides in the area revealed that none of them saw the suspect, but several confirmed hearing gunfire coming from the opposite side of the river, estimated to be about 20 to 30 meters away from where the group was standing at the time.
The victim was immediately brought to a hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds to the face, neck, left chest, and right side of the abdomen. Despite the severity of the injuries, authorities reported that the tourist is now in stable condition.
Investigators said the nature and pattern of the wounds suggest that the firearm used in the attack was possibly a shotgun.
Police from the Talakag Municipal Police Station are continuing a follow-up investigation to identify the suspect and determine the motive behind the shooting. Authorities have yet to establish whether the victim was specifically targeted or if the shooting was a random act.
The incident has raised concerns over security in tourist destinations in the area, particularly in remote natural attractions that draw visitors seeking Bukidnon’s scenic landscapes and waterfalls. Local authorities are expected to review safety measures in the site as the investigation continues.