ARAKAN, Cotabato – A retired Army officer who was also working as a Technical Assistant at the Cotabato Provincial Government was gunned down at his farm in Purok 1, Barangay Binoongan, Arakan, around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2025.
The victim was identified as Noel Bellenas Angeles, a resident of Apo Sandawa Phase 1, Poblacion, Kidapawan City. Initial police investigation revealed that Angeles was doing laundry when two armed men arrived and opened fire on him using an M16 rifle.
The attack was witnessed by his live-in partner, who recounted that after shooting Angeles, the suspects approached her, seized her cellphone, and immediately fled toward an unknown direction.
Angeles sustained fatal gunshot wounds and was declared dead at the scene.
Authorities are eyeing personal grudge as the primary motive behind the killing. Police units in Arakan continue to conduct follow-up operations to identify and apprehend the suspects.