ISABELA CITY, BASILAN — A former barangay captain from Akbar Municipality was gunned down by an unidentified assailant in a bold daytime attack in Sitio Pilar, Barangay Binuangan, leaving local authorities scrambling to uncover the motive behind the killing and track down the suspect.
The victim, Hji Malik Aru, former barangay captain of Barangay Mangalut, sustained two fatal gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen, causing his instantaneous death. Responding officers found him lifeless at the scene, while the assailant had already fled moments after the attack.
Police investigators are now pursuing all possible angles—including personal conflict and political connections—though no clear motive has been established. A hot pursuit operation has been launched, and authorities are urging residents of Binuangan and nearby communities to share any information that may aid in the swift capture of the gunman. The victim’s family is calling for immediate justice, while the Basilan Provincial Police Office has vowed to mobilize all resources to resolve the case.