MAKILALA, Cotabato Province — A still unidentified man believed to be a victim of a suspected summary execution was discovered dead Sunday afternoon, March 15, 2026, in a grassy area along the boundary of Barangay Sinkatulan in Makilala and Barangay Nueva Vida in the neighboring municipality of M’lang, authorities said.
The body was found in Purok 6 of Barangay Sinkatulan, near a roadside area surrounded by rubber plantations, drawing the attention of residents who later reported the incident to authorities.
Initial reports indicated that the victim was discovered lying bloodied on the ground with his hands tightly bound and his entire head wrapped with duct tape, suggesting that he may have been restrained before being killed.
Photographs circulating online showed the victim’s head completely covered with tape while his hands were tied, raising suspicions among investigators that the killing may have been a case of summary execution, commonly referred to as “salvage.”
Responding personnel from the Makilala Municipal Police Station immediately proceeded to the scene to secure the area and launch an investigation into the incident.
Police authorities said the victim had no identification documents at the time his body was recovered, and no residents in the nearby communities were able to recognize or identify the man, leading investigators to believe that he may not be from the surrounding barangays.
Investigators are currently working to establish the victim’s identity through further forensic examination and coordination with nearby police stations in case there are reports of missing persons that may match the description of the deceased.
Authorities are also looking into possible motives behind the killing and whether the crime may be linked to personal disputes, criminal activity, or other circumstances.
The body has been brought to a local funeral facility for post-mortem examination while police continue gathering evidence and interviewing potential witnesses who may have seen suspicious activity in the area prior to the discovery.
Police are urging anyone who may have information about the victim or the incident to come forward and coordinate with the Makilala Municipal Police Station to help advance the investigation.
As of this writing, authorities have yet to release further details while the investigation remains ongoing.