RAJAH BUAYAN, Maguindanao del Sur — A father was killed on the spot while his pregnant wife and one-year-old daughter were wounded after unidentified gunmen riddled their home with bullets past midnight on Monday, April 6, in Barangay Mileb.
Authorities identified the fatality as Said Sakilan Bansil, a resident of the area. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the body, resulting in his immediate death.
His wife, identified as Baiyan, who is eight months pregnant, survived the attack but suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Their one-year-old daughter also sustained injuries after being hit in the leg. Both were rushed to a hospital and are now reported to be in stable condition.
According to initial police reports, the family was fast asleep inside their home when the suspects arrived at around 12:00 midnight and suddenly opened fire, turning what should have been a place of safety into a scene of violence.
Investigators said the attack appeared to be deliberate, with the gunmen targeting the house while the victims were defenseless. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear as of this writing.
Captain Guiseppe Tamayo, spokesperson of the Maguindanao del Sur police, confirmed the incident and said a manhunt operation is now underway. Elements of the Rajah Buayan Municipal Police Station, in coordination with the Philippine Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion, have launched a joint pursuit operation against the still-unidentified assailants.
“This was a brutal and senseless act, especially considering that the victims were asleep and included a pregnant woman and a child,” a police official said, as authorities vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The incident has raised alarm among residents, with local officials urging vigilance while law enforcement intensifies its investigation and tracking efforts.
Police are currently gathering evidence and interviewing possible witnesses to determine the identities of the attackers and establish the motive behind what authorities described as an attempted massacre.