DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao del Norte — A barangay councilor was shot dead by unidentified armed men while traveling along a farm-to-market road in Datu Odin Sinsuat on Monday morning, October 12, prompting police to launch a pursuit operation to track down the suspects.
The victim was identified as Amil Beno, a barangay kagawad of Barangay Bungued and a resident of the same village.
Based on the initial police investigation, Beno was riding a payong-payong, a local motorized passenger vehicle, and traveling toward Poblacion Dalican at around 9:40 a.m. when two suspects riding tandem on a motorcycle allegedly followed him.
The gunmen reportedly opened fire on Beno along the Bungued-Dalican Farm-to-Market Road near the old public market. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the back and was found lying face down on the road. He was declared dead at the scene.
Personnel of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station responded after receiving information from a concerned citizen at around 9:50 a.m.
Following the shooting, police launched a hot pursuit operation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. Investigators are also gathering information from possible witnesses who may have seen the suspects before, during, or after the attack.
The police have sought the assistance of the Regional Forensic Unit of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region to support the investigation and help establish the circumstances surrounding the killing.
As of this writing, the identities of the gunmen and the motive behind the attack remain undetermined.
Authorities are continuing their investigation and pursuit operations as they work to establish the full circumstances of the incident and bring those responsible to justice.