Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur — A truck helper from South Cotabato was brutally killed after he was believed to have been robbed and struck with a hard object while guarding their broken-down delivery truck in Purok Aguho, Barangay Baclay, Thursday afternoon, December 26, 2025.
The victim was identified as Antonio Esmayan, 55, a wing van helper and resident of Surallah, South Cotabato.
Initial investigation revealed that the wing van, carrying a load of melons for delivery to Bohol, encountered mechanical issues along a curved portion of the road. The driver reportedly left early for the town of Aurora to look for a mechanic, leaving Esmayan behind to secure the vehicle.
When the driver returned, Esmayan was no longer at the truck. After searching the surrounding area, he found the victim’s body lying near a cliffside with visible injuries to the head and face.
Police recovered a bloodied wooden stick and a stone suspected to have been used in the attack. The helper’s bag and personal belongings were missing, prompting investigators to consider robbery as the main motive.
Authorities from the Tukuran Municipal Police Station and SOCO are now pursuing leads to identify the perpetrators and determine the full circumstances behind the killing.