POLOMOLOK, SOUTH COTABATO — A 23-year-old member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) was killed while two civilians were wounded after four unidentified gunmen opened fire in Barangay Sulit, Polomolok, South Cotabato, on Monday morning, October 5, 2026.
Police identified the fatality as Jerald Calayo Flungcay, a resident of Barangay Lapu, Polomolok, who was reportedly assigned as a CAFGU member in Tboli, South Cotabato.
According to the initial investigation of the Polomolok Municipal Police Station, Flungcay was on his way home aboard a motorcycle after coming from Barangay Poblacion when he was attacked at around 10:15 a.m. near the junction of Purok 2 and Purok 3 in Barangay Sulit.
Police said the four suspects were reportedly riding two motorcycles when they fired at Flungcay. After the shooting, the suspects fled toward Purok 7 of Barangay Sulit.
Two civilians who happened to be passing through the area were also hit by stray bullets during the attack.
The injured civilians were identified as Ryan Mark Paulo Maslog, 33, and Wilfredo Soguillon Maslog Sr., 74, both residents of Barangay Sulit.
Maslog sustained a gunshot wound to his right leg, while Maslog Sr. was hit in his right foot. Both were immediately brought to the Provincial General Hospital for medical treatment.
Investigators recovered nine spent bullet casings, along with several fired bullets, from the crime scene. The recovered ballistic evidence is expected to form part of the police investigation as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Flungcay was declared dead following the shooting. His remains were subsequently laid to rest in accordance with Islamic tradition.
Police have launched a hot-pursuit operation to identify and arrest the four suspects. Authorities are also investigating the possible motive behind the shooting.
The incident has raised renewed concern over the safety of civilians in areas where armed attacks can place passersby at risk, particularly when gunfire occurs in populated communities.
Authorities have yet to publicly establish whether the attack was specifically targeted at Flungcay or whether it was connected to any personal, security, or other dispute. The identities of the gunmen and the motive remain under investigation.
Police are expected to continue gathering witness accounts, examining the recovered ballistic evidence, and pursuing leads that could help identify the suspects and establish the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting.