KABACAN, Cotabato — An armed man was killed while his alleged accomplice managed to escape following a violent confrontation with authorities that began with an assault on a village watchman and escalated into a gunfight early morning on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Purok Miracle, Barangay Poblacion.
The fatality was identified as Nasser Lomantong Dalamba, an adult resident of Manaulanan, Pahamuddin in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
According to police reports, the incident unfolded at around 4:20 a.m. after authorities received a tip from members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) regarding two men riding a motorcycle who were allegedly armed. When a BPAT member attempted to approach the suspects, one of them reportedly punched the village watchman before fleeing the scene with his companion.
Responding police units immediately launched an operation, which quickly turned into a firefight when the suspects allegedly engaged the officers. In the exchange of gunfire, Dalamba sustained critical injuries.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Authorities recovered from the scene a caliber .45 pistol, live ammunition, and several spent shell casings believed to have been used during the encounter. These pieces of evidence are now under forensic examination as part of the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, the second suspect successfully evaded arrest and is currently the subject of an intensified manhunt operation by the Kabacan Municipal Police Station.
Police officials said efforts are underway to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, including the identities, motives, and possible criminal links of the suspects.
The attack on a BPAT member and the subsequent gun battle have raised renewed concerns over the presence of armed individuals operating within residential communities in the area. Authorities assured the public that security operations will be heightened to prevent similar incidents and ensure the safety of residents.
Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.