SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao del Norte — A 36-year-old man was killed in a brazen daytime shooting after an unidentified assailant opened fire on him while he was tending his mini-store along Diversion Road in Barangay Bulibod on Monday, police said.
The victim was identified as Hasim Masukat Masabpi, married, self-employed, and a resident of the same barangay.
According to the Sultan Kudarat Municipal Police Station (MPS), the incident occurred at around 11:35 a.m. and was reported to authorities ten minutes later. Police units immediately responded and secured the crime scene.
Initial investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly posed as a customer before suddenly shooting Masabpi with an undetermined firearm. After the attack, the gunman fled the scene aboard a red Honda Click motorcycle, heading in an unknown direction.
Masabpi was rushed to the nearest hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Responding police officers recovered seven spent shell casings at the scene, believed to have been fired from a .40 caliber firearm, indicating a sustained and deliberate attack.
Authorities said the motive behind the killing remains under investigation. A hot pursuit operation has been launched by the Sultan Kudarat MPS, while the Regional Forensic Unit – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (RFU-BAR) has been tapped to conduct a thorough crime scene examination.
Police officials appealed to the public for cooperation, urging anyone with information that could help identify and arrest the suspect to immediately coordinate with local authorities.
The killing has raised renewed concerns over public safety in the area, particularly as the attack occurred in broad daylight along a busy roadway.