ALAMADA, Cotabato, Philippines — A 39-year-old businessman was shot dead Friday night, September 11, after he went to Purok Damayan in Barangay Dado, Alamada, Cotabato, reportedly for a transaction related to his banana buy-and-sell business.
Police identified the victim as Joseph Villar Porten, married and a resident of Purok Masagana in the same barangay. He was declared dead at the scene after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.
According to the initial report released by the Alamada Municipal Police Station, Porten had gone to Purok Damayan after being contacted by a person known to him. When he arrived, he was allegedly called by a 35-year-old farmer identified by police as Tingtingan Riminimbang, a resident of Sitio Membalawag, Barangay Dado.
Police said that when Porten approached, Riminimbang allegedly shot him several times using a caliber .45 pistol. The victim sustained gunshot wounds to various parts of his body, including the head, resulting in his immediate death.
The shooting reportedly occurred at around 10 p.m. Friday.
Investigators recovered two spent cartridge cases, two slugs and one unfired cartridge, all believed to be from a caliber .45 firearm, from the crime scene.
Suspect Flees Toward Mountainous Area
After the shooting, the suspect allegedly fled toward the mountainous portion of Sitio Membalawag.
Police immediately launched a hot pursuit operation to locate and arrest Riminimbang. Authorities have not reported an arrest as of the initial police account.
The circumstances surrounding the encounter remain under investigation, including what prompted the victim to go to the area and the events immediately preceding the shooting.
Police are currently looking into a personal dispute as the possible motive for the killing. However, authorities have not disclosed further details about the alleged dispute, and the motive remains subject to confirmation as the investigation progresses.
The police account differs from an earlier description of the incident as a “riding-in-tandem” shooting. Based on the more detailed police narrative, authorities have identified one 35-year-old farmer as the alleged gunman and have not established the involvement of a second attacker.
Investigation Continues
The recovery of the spent cartridges, slugs and live ammunition is expected to form part of the evidence being examined by investigators as they reconstruct the shooting.
Authorities are also expected to establish the relationship between Porten and the suspect, verify the circumstances of their meeting, and determine whether the alleged personal dispute directly led to the killing.
Police urged anyone with information that could help establish the circumstances of the shooting or locate the fleeing suspect to coordinate with the Alamada police.
The investigation and hot pursuit operation remain ongoing.