CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Two active members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were arrested following an alleged shooting that wounded a 38-year-old civilian in Sitio Lumboy, Barangay Indahag, Cagayan de Oro City, on Monday night, September 21, 2026.
According to the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO), authorities received a report of gunfire at around 9:54 p.m., prompting responding police personnel to proceed to the area.
They found the victim suffering from a single gunshot wound to the upper portion of his thigh. He was immediately assisted and transported by barangay ambulance to Maria Reyna Xavier University Hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition as of the latest police information.
The incident triggered a citywide response after COCPO issued a flash alarm to police units.
Suspects Intercepted at Border Control Point
Police personnel manning the Indahag Border Control Point subsequently intercepted a motorcycle matching the description of the vehicle reportedly used by the suspects to leave the area.
The motorcycle was described as a gray Yamaha Sniper.
The two riders were identified as active PNP personnel assigned to the same border control post. They were subsequently taken into custody for investigation.
The two arrested personnel were identified by their ranks as a Police Executive Master Sergeant (PEMS) and a Police Auxiliary Technician (PAT), both assigned to the City Mobile Force Company (CMFC) and detailed at the Indahag Border Control Point.
Their issued service firearms were confiscated for examination. Authorities also recovered a fired cartridge case from the scene as part of the investigation.
Police investigators said a witness positively identified one of the apprehended personnel as the alleged shooter.
Because the case remains under investigation, the identification and alleged involvement of the two personnel remain subject to the filing of appropriate charges and the determination of the proper authorities.
Administrative and Criminal Cases Being Prepared
The two personnel are currently detained at the Maharlika Detention Facility while investigators prepare the necessary administrative and criminal complaints.
COCPO said the case will undergo the appropriate investigative and legal procedures, including examination of the recovered firearms and other evidence gathered from the scene.
The arrest of active police personnel has also placed renewed attention on police accountability, particularly because the individuals involved were reportedly on duty at a police checkpoint when they were intercepted.
COCPO Director Police Colonel Dexter G. Paje stressed that police personnel are not exempt from the law when allegations of wrongdoing arise.
“Let this be clear: no one is above the law — not even our own,” Paje said.
He added that he would not protect criminal acts allegedly committed by police personnel and that the investigation would be conducted thoroughly, impartially and transparently.
Paje also emphasized that the rights of all persons involved would be respected while rejecting any form of cover-up or special treatment.
COCPO Pledges Full Accountability
COCPO said it is pursuing all necessary investigative and legal procedures and will seek accountability at every stage of the case.
The incident comes amid continuing efforts by the police leadership in Northern Mindanao to reinforce professionalism and public trust within the police organization. Police Regional Office 10 is currently headed by PBGen Nestor C. Babagay Jr., while PGEN Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. serves as Chief of the PNP. Recent PNP statements have likewise emphasized the importance of public trust and integrity among police personnel.
For now, the victim remains under medical care, while the two police personnel remain in custody as authorities continue gathering evidence and preparing the cases.
The circumstances that led to the shooting, including the motive and the events immediately preceding the gunfire, have yet to be fully established by investigators.