MADAMBA, Lanao del Sur — A police officer was shot and killed while performing evening prayers inside a mosque in Barangay Uyaan Proper, Madamba, Lanao del Sur, on Saturday night, June 20, in an attack that has drawn strong condemnation from law enforcement and local officials.
The victim was identified as Police Chief Master Sergeant (PCMS) Alioden M. Sarangani, a member of the Madamba Municipal Police Station and a resident of Barangay Tungantungan, Madalum, Lanao del Sur.
According to reports from the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), Sarangani was inside a masjid conducting Isha, the fifth and final daily prayer in Islam, at around 7:42 p.m. when an armed assailant entered the place of worship and opened fire.
Investigators said the suspect, armed with a pistol, approached the officer and shot him multiple times in the head. Sarangani sustained fatal gunshot wounds and died instantly at the scene.
Witnesses reported that panic erupted inside the mosque following the gunfire. Amid the commotion, the gunman managed to escape and remains at large.
Authorities immediately launched a manhunt and intensified intelligence and hot pursuit operations to identify and apprehend the suspect. As of Sunday, investigators were still working to establish the motive behind the killing.
In an official statement, PRO-BAR Director Christopher Abecia strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a cowardly act committed against a member of the Philippine National Police inside a sacred place of worship.
“This cowardly act against a member of the Philippine National Police, particularly as it was committed inside a place of worship, will not be tolerated,” Abecia said.
The regional police office assured the public that all available resources are being utilized to track down the perpetrator and ensure that those responsible will be brought to justice.
The killing also drew condemnation from Mamintal Adiong Jr., who chairs the Lanao del Sur Provincial Peace and Order Council. Adiong vowed to work closely with local officials in Madamba and law enforcement authorities to help identify the gunman and support efforts to prosecute those behind the attack.
Sarangani, who belonged to a prominent Maranao clan in Madalum, had been serving under the Madamba Municipal Police Station at the time of his death.
The Philippine National Police appealed to the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with authorities by providing any information that could assist in the ongoing investigation.
The fatal shooting has raised concerns over security in the province, particularly because the attack occurred inside a mosque during prayer, a setting traditionally regarded as a sanctuary and symbol of peace.
Authorities have yet to determine whether the killing was linked to personal grudges, extremist activity, or other motives as the investigation continues.