COTABATO CITY — Two men were wounded after being ambushed by unidentified gunmen while responding to reports of gunfire in a remote village in Rajah Buayan on Saturday night, March 28, authorities said.
The victims were identified by the Philippine National Police as Anton Mamalinta and Asrap Guialudin Upam, both residents of Barangay Baital in the said municipality.
Initial police investigation revealed that the victims were riding tandem on a yellow Kawasaki Rouser motorcycle at around 9:30 p.m., heading toward the source of earlier gunshots they had heard in their community. However, before reaching their destination, they were suddenly waylaid and fired upon by still unidentified assailants in Sitio Talunton.
Authorities said the suspects opened fire using high-powered firearms, believed to include a caliber 7.62mm rifle and an M16 armalite, indicating a possible level of planning and intent to inflict serious harm.
Both victims sustained gunshot wounds to their legs but survived the attack. They were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment and are now reported to be in stable condition.
Crime scene investigators recovered nearly 20 spent shell casings from the site, further suggesting the intensity of the attack. The volume of firepower used has raised concerns among local authorities about the presence of heavily armed individuals operating in the area.
Police are continuing their investigation to determine the identities of the perpetrators and the motive behind the ambush. As of this writing, no group has claimed responsibility, and it remains unclear whether the victims were the intended targets or were caught in a broader armed confrontation.
The incident adds to a growing list of violent encounters in parts of Maguindanao del Sur, underscoring persistent security challenges in some communities despite ongoing peace and order efforts.
Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution, especially when responding to suspicious incidents, as investigations remain ongoing and the suspects are still at large.