SULTAN KUDARAT, MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE — A non-uniformed personnel (NUP) of the Sultan Kudarat Municipal Police Station was killed after being shot by unidentified assailants while riding his motorcycle along the National Road in Barangay Dalumangcob, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, on Saturday morning, August 22, 2026.
The shooting occurred amid the strict implementation of a gun ban in the Bangsamoro region, adding to concerns over the continued presence and use of firearms in violent incidents despite intensified security and law-enforcement measures.
The victim was identified as Jonathan Juan, an adult, married, a resident of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, and a non-uniformed personnel assigned to the Sultan Kudarat Municipal Police Station.
Based on the initial investigation, Juan was riding a dark gray Honda Click motorcycle bearing plate number 423MRJ at around 8:10 a.m. when he was allegedly followed by unidentified assailants.
The suspects reportedly opened fire using a still-unidentified firearm, striking Juan as he traveled along the national road.
Juan sustained gunshot wounds and was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital for medical treatment. However, he was declared dead after failing to survive the attack.
The gunmen quickly fled the area aboard an unidentified vehicle and escaped toward an undetermined direction.
Authorities have yet to determine the identities of the assailants or establish the motive behind the killing. Investigators are looking into the circumstances surrounding the attack, including whether Juan was deliberately targeted.
The incident is also being investigated in the context of the ongoing gun ban, with authorities expected to examine how the firearm used in the shooting was obtained and whether the suspects may have violated other firearms-related laws.
The Sultan Kudarat Municipal Police Station has launched follow-up operations to identify, locate, and arrest the perpetrators. Investigators are also expected to check available CCTV footage and gather witness accounts and other evidence that could help establish the movements of the victim and the suspects before, during, and after the shooting.
Meanwhile, crime scene processing was requested from the Scene of the Crime Operations–Regional Forensic Unit of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (SOCO-RFUBAR) for the proper documentation and collection of physical evidence from the scene.
Police have not yet released a definitive motive for the killing, and no suspect has been publicly identified or arrested as of the latest available information.
The shooting remains under investigation as authorities continue their follow-up operations. Further details, including the identity of the perpetrators, the motive, and the type of firearm used, are expected to be established as the investigation progresses.