TAMPAKAN, South Cotabato — An unidentified man believed by his pursuers to be an alleged carnapping suspect was shot dead in a remote village in Tampakan, South Cotabato, on Tuesday afternoon, July 28, prompting the immediate arrest of two suspects following a police hot pursuit operation.
According to the Tampakan Municipal Police Station (MPS), authorities received information at around 6:15 p.m. from Mandarin Base regarding a lifeless man found with multiple gunshot wounds in Sitio Bampoy, Barangay Lampitak. Police officers and investigators immediately responded to the area, but difficult terrain, mountainous roads, and unfavorable weather conditions delayed their arrival until approximately 7:35 p.m.
Initial investigation revealed that at around 4:00 p.m., the unidentified victim reportedly approached a small hut owned by Mrs. Escobillo, pleading for help while claiming that several men were chasing him. However, he was allegedly not allowed inside the hut, prompting him to flee toward a nearby cornfield in an attempt to hide.
Minutes later, two men identified only by their aliases “Troy,” 25, a resident of Barangay Albagan, and “Benjie,” 42, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, both from Tampakan, arrived at the same hut. According to the witness, the pair asked whether a man had passed by, claiming they were pursuing an individual they suspected of being involved in carnapping.
Shortly after the two men left in the direction of the cornfield, Mrs. Escobillo reportedly heard several successive gunshots coming from the area where the unidentified man had sought refuge.
When police conducted a crime scene investigation, they discovered the victim’s body bearing multiple gunshot wounds, including injuries to the left armpit and right leg. The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) processed the area for forensic evidence while investigators documented the scene.
The victim’s remains were transported to Almeria Funeral Homes in Tampakan for autopsy and other medico-legal procedures. As of this writing, authorities have yet to establish the identity of the deceased, as no relatives or acquaintances have come forward to claim the body.
Following the shooting, Tampakan police immediately launched a hot pursuit operation that resulted in the arrest of the two identified suspects, alias “Troy” and alias “Benjie.” Both are now under the custody of the Tampakan Municipal Police Station while investigators prepare the appropriate criminal charges against them.
Despite the suspects’ claim that they believed the victim was involved in carnapping, police emphasized that no official evidence or final police findings have yet been released to substantiate that allegation. Authorities stressed that the motive behind the fatal shooting remains under active investigation.
Investigators are continuing to gather witness statements, examine physical evidence recovered from the scene, and verify the identity of the slain man as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Tampakan Municipal Police Station urged anyone with information that could help identify the victim or shed light on the incident to coordinate with the nearest police station as the case remains under thorough investigation.