COTABATO CITY — A former barangay councilor was wounded after unidentified gunmen opened fire on him while he was preparing to open his store in Barangay Rosary Heights 11, Cotabato City, at around 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
The victim was identified as Sali Datukali, 52, a former barangay kagawad of Rosary Heights 10 who is now reportedly engaged in running a sari-sari store. He sustained gunshot wounds to his thigh and hand and was rushed to a nearby hospital for immediate medical treatment.
According to Barangay Rosary Heights 11 Chairman Jho Binangon, Datukali was outside his store when the shooting occurred, just a few meters from the main gate of a school in the area.
Initial police information indicated that the assailant approached the victim and fired several shots using what was believed to be a .45-caliber firearm. The gunman subsequently fled on a motorcycle, escaping toward an undetermined direction.
Investigators recovered five cartridge cases, two fired bullets, and one deformed bullet from the crime scene. The recovered ballistic evidence is expected to undergo examination as part of the investigation to help establish the type of firearm used and determine whether the evidence can be linked to a suspect.
Authorities have launched a hot-pursuit operation to identify and apprehend the gunman. Investigators are also working to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and determine the motive behind the shooting.
As of the initial reports, no suspect had been publicly identified, and the motive remained undetermined. Authorities have yet to establish whether the attack was connected to the victim’s former position as a barangay official or stemmed from another personal or criminal-related matter.
The incident has raised concerns over the safety of residents and business owners in the community, particularly as the shooting occurred early in the morning near a school entrance. However, there was no immediate information indicating whether students or other bystanders were present or directly endangered during the incident.
The investigation remains ongoing, and further details, including the victim’s medical condition and any developments in the pursuit of the suspect, are still being awaited.