KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato — A senior citizen identified as Ricarte Bayawan was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding assailants in Purok 6B, Barangay Sudapin, Kidapawan City, on the afternoon of October 24, 2026, leaving his family demanding justice as the motive for the killing remains unclear.
The shooting occurred at around 3:30 p.m. as Bayawan was reportedly leaving his house when two unidentified men aboard a motorcycle opened fire on him. The suspects fled immediately after the attack.
According to Barangay Sudapin Chairman John Carl Sibug, Bayawan sustained three gunshot wounds to the chest from a caliber .45 firearm. Despite his injuries, the victim reportedly managed to run after the shooting before his child rushed him to a hospital.
However, medical personnel were unable to save his life.
Motive remains unclear
The circumstances behind the killing remain uncertain, with the victim’s family reportedly unaware of any reason that could have prompted the attack.
Sibug said Bayawan had no known adverse record in the barangay, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the motive and the circumstances that led to his death.
Authorities have yet to establish whether the attack was connected to any personal dispute, property-related issue, or other possible motive.
The possibility of a land dispute has also been raised because the victim’s family are informal settlers on a property in Barangay Sudapin. However, the barangay chairman indicated that the incident was unlikely to be related to the issue, explaining that mediation between the property owner and the occupants had been proceeding amicably.
No established link between the land issue and the shooting has been reported.
Family calls for justice
With the assailants still unidentified in the available information, Bayawan’s family is seeking justice and accountability for his death.
The killing has also raised questions about the circumstances that allowed the gunmen to approach the victim, carry out the attack, and escape.
Investigators will need to establish the identities of the suspects, determine their possible motive, and reconstruct the events leading to the shooting.
As of the information available, no official police statement detailing the progress of the investigation, the identification of suspects, or any arrests had been provided.
The family continues to await answers as they seek justice for Bayawan, whose death has left the motive behind the attack unresolved.