A 53-year-old barangay chairman was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen while having a snack with his wife and another companion near his sari-sari store in Purok 3, Barangay Bannawag, President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat, on Monday morning, August 24, 2026.
The victim was identified by the President Quirino Municipal Police Station (MPS) as Bernaned Acosta Barua, 53, married and the incumbent Punong Barangay of Barangay Bannawag. He was also a resident of nearby Purok 4.
Police said the shooting occurred at around 11:20 a.m., with the incident reported to the President Quirino MPS at approximately 11:30 a.m.
Based on the initial investigation, Barua was seated beside his sari-sari store and eating with his wife and another companion when two unidentified men suddenly approached and opened fire.
The assailants were reportedly wearing black jackets and bonnets and were riding a black Suzuki Raider 150 motorcycle without a license plate.
The suspects allegedly fired at Barua using a firearm whose type has yet to be determined. The barangay chairman sustained multiple gunshot wounds to different parts of his body.
He was immediately rushed to a hospital for medical treatment, but the injuries proved fatal.
After the shooting, the two suspects reportedly fled toward the direction of Barangay Malingon in President Quirino.
Authorities immediately launched a hot pursuit operation in an effort to locate and arrest the gunmen.
The President Quirino MPS has also coordinated with the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Forensic Unit for crime scene processing and the recovery and examination of possible evidence left at the scene.
Police are continuing efforts to establish the identities of the attackers, determine their exact movements before and after the shooting, and identify the possible motive behind the killing.
Investigators are also checking whether there were witnesses who may have seen the suspects or the motorcycle used in the escape, as well as possible CCTV footage from nearby establishments or residences that could help establish the circumstances of the attack.
As of the initial police report, authorities have yet to identify the perpetrators or establish a definite motive.
The killing of the incumbent barangay chairman has drawn attention in the community as police intensify their pursuit of the suspects and work to determine whether the attack was related to Barua’s position as a local government official or stemmed from another motive.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are expected to release additional information as evidence is gathered and the identities of the suspects are established.
This report is based on initial information from authorities. Details may be updated as the investigation progresses.