DIMATALING, Zamboanga del Sur — A 59-year-old barangay tanod died after his .45-caliber pistol allegedly discharged accidentally while he was drinking with his nephew in Barangay Libertad, Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur, on Thursday evening, August 6, 2026.
The incident occurred at around 8:20 p.m. in Purok 4, Barangay Libertad, and was reported to the Dinas Municipal Police Station (MPS) at approximately 10:35 p.m.
Initial police investigation indicated that the victim was having drinks with his nephew when the incident happened.
According to witnesses, the victim allegedly fired the handgun into the air before placing the .45-caliber pistol at the front portion of his waistband, near the groin area of his trousers.
Police said the firearm reportedly discharged while the victim was allegedly holding, adjusting, or repositioning it. The bullet struck his left foot, inflicting a severe gunshot wound.
Despite efforts to bring him to the nearest medical facility, the victim was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician at a clinic in Dinas.
Firearm, ammunition recovered
Police recovered the suspected firearm involved in the incident at the scene.
The recovered weapon was identified as a .45-caliber pistol, with its magazine containing four live rounds of ammunition. Investigators also recovered two fired cartridge cases, indicating that the firearm had been discharged.
The recovered firearm and ammunition were secured as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities have yet to establish the complete sequence of events leading to the fatal discharge, and investigators are expected to examine the firearm, the recovered ammunition, witness statements, and other available evidence to determine precisely how the shooting occurred.
A tragic reminder of firearm safety
The incident underscores the potentially fatal consequences of careless firearm handling, particularly when a loaded weapon is handled after the user has been drinking alcoholic beverages.
Placing a loaded handgun directly into the waistband, especially near the groin or other vulnerable parts of the body, can pose an immediate danger if the firearm is not properly secured or if its trigger is inadvertently activated.
The alleged firing into the air prior to the fatal discharge also raises serious safety concerns, as firing a weapon without a safe and lawful target can endanger other people and property in the surrounding area.
For law enforcement and firearm-safety advocates, the incident serves as another warning that a firearm should always be treated as loaded, kept pointed in a safe direction, and handled only by a person who is in a fit condition to do so.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation as authorities work to determine whether the discharge was purely accidental and whether any other safety or legal violations may have occurred.
Meanwhile, the victim’s family has reportedly made arrangements for his remains and is preparing for his final burial.