MAASIM, Sarangani Province — A 59-year-old beach resort caretaker shot an unidentified man in front of Pacman Beach Resort in Barangay Tinoto, Maasim, Sarangani Province, at around 10 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, with the suspect later surrendering to police and claiming he acted in self-defense.
The Police Regional Office 12 (PRO 12) said the shooting occurred in Sitio As Nalang after the caretaker, identified by police as alias “Pals” and also referred to as “Jose” in the initial report, contacted the Maasim Municipal Police Station to report that an unidentified person had allegedly entered the house where he was staying.
According to the suspect’s account, he attempted to calm the individual but was allegedly attacked. He claimed he drew his firearm and shot the man to protect himself.
Police have yet to establish the circumstances that led to the shooting independently, and the suspect’s claim of self-defense remains subject to investigation.
A .45-caliber pistol was recovered at the scene. The caretaker subsequently surrendered to personnel of the Maasim Municipal Police Station following the incident.
Police investigators coordinated with the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) in Alabel, Sarangani Province, for crime scene processing and forensic examination as authorities work to reconstruct the events leading to the shooting.
The identity and condition of the person who was shot were not immediately established in the initial police report. Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the individual or the results of the forensic examination.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the incident and establish whether any criminal liability may arise.
PBGEN Alan B. Manibog, regional director of PRO 12, emphasized the need for a thorough and impartial investigation to establish the facts surrounding the shooting.
The investigation is expected to examine the accounts of those involved, the physical evidence recovered from the scene, and other available information to determine what happened before the firearm was discharged.
Authorities have yet to announce a final determination on the suspect’s self-defense claim. His surrender and account of the incident do not, by themselves, establish the legality of the shooting, which remains subject to the findings of investigators.