KIDAPAWAN CITY – Tension gripped Barangay Malinan on Friday morning, August 8, 2025, after a group of around 30 armed men reportedly attacked a local official and members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT).
According to the Kidapawan City Police Office (KCPO), the incident occurred at around 9:00 a.m. in Purok Mahugani, approximately two kilometers from the barangay proper. Barangay Captain Gemma Daruca Pajes told investigators that Barangay Kagawad Jothan Daruca, together with three BPAT members, was fired upon multiple times by the armed group while they were in Daruca’s lot.
Responding to reports of gunfire, the Kidapawan City Police immediately deployed Team Delta 1 to verify the situation. Troops from the 72nd Infantry Battalion also arrived in the area to conduct security operations, gather intelligence, and pursue the suspects.
The presence of the armed men prompted heightened security measures in the barangay, with classes in Barangay Malinan reportedly suspended for the day. Authorities have yet to confirm if there were any casualties or injuries.
The situation remains under close monitoring as police and military forces work to restore peace and order in the affected community.