TALITAY, Maguindanao del Norte — A 19-year-old man who was supposed to get married the following day was wounded after two unidentified gunmen opened fire on him and his companion in Barangay Gadungan, Talitay, Maguindanao del Norte, on Saturday evening, September 19, 2026.
The victim was identified by the Talitay Municipal Police Station as Paco Alamin Abdulrakman, 19, a resident of Barangay Gadungan.
According to the initial police investigation, Abdulrakman was outside their residence with Ambol Arapat Sangki, 22, playing the mobile game Mobile Legends when two men suddenly passed by and opened fire at them.
Abdulrakman was struck by a bullet in the chest, while Sangki sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg.
The two victims were immediately brought to a hospital for emergency medical treatment. Abdulrakman was later transferred to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) for further treatment because of the injury he sustained to his chest.
Sangki, meanwhile, remained under medical care at Dinaig District Hospital for his gunshot wound.
Police said the two assailants immediately fled after the shooting and their identities and escape route remain unknown.
The shooting occurred just hours before Abdulrakman was scheduled to marry on Sunday, September 20, turning what was supposed to be a significant milestone in his life into a medical emergency.
Authorities have not yet established whether the attack was directly connected to the planned wedding or whether the victim had been specifically targeted.
The Talitay MPS is continuing its investigation to identify the gunmen and determine the motive behind the shooting. Investigators are also expected to gather additional information from the victims and possible witnesses as part of efforts to establish the circumstances leading to the attack.
As of the latest police information provided, no suspect had been identified or arrested.
The incident adds to continuing concerns over gun violence in communities where armed attacks can occur suddenly, underscoring the importance of determining the circumstances and motive behind the shooting.