MATALAM, Cotabato — Four members of the same family, including two minors, were killed in a brazen shooting in Sitio Israel, Barangay New Abra, Matalam, Cotabato on the evening of January 29, marking yet another deadly incident that heightens fears over a growing wave of violence in the town.
The Matalam Municipal Police Station confirmed that the victims were ambushed while riding a motorcycle on their way home at around 6:00 p.m. from Sitio Israel. A fifth victim, a 14-year-old boy, survived the attack and is now recovering in a provincial hospital in Amas after sustaining gunshot wounds to the abdomen that exited through his lower body.
Police identified the fatalities as Rashid Sahay Mampo (19), Rica Jane Maidlos (18), Daryl Mampo Diansay (16), and Russel Kim Mampo Diansay (11). All were Bangsamoro and members of the same family. Authorities said the adult victims included a farmer and his spouse, while the two minors were out-of-school youth. It remains unclear whether the minors were siblings or cousins.
According to Matalam PNP Deputy Chief Police Lieutenant Bonel Cabuyao, police units, assisted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the 40th Infantry Battalion, immediately responded to the report. However, responders initially struggled to reach the crime scene due to its mountainous and remote location.
Investigators said the victims were riding a black Rusi motorcycle and had just left a nearby residence where they reportedly connected to Wi-Fi when unidentified gunmen opened fire in a dark stretch of the road. The assailants fled toward Sitio Malupayag after the attack.
Four victims were declared dead at the scene when police arrived at around 7:15 p.m., while the lone survivor was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Cabuyao clarified that the incident is not being treated as an ambush, but admitted that the motive remains unclear as relatives of the victims are still in shock and unable to provide full statements. Authorities are currently looking into possible angles, including personal disputes or land-related conflicts.
Several spent bullet casings were recovered at the crime scene and will undergo ballistic examination to determine the type of firearm used and to help identify the perpetrators.
In an interview, a relative revealed that the family had been living in Barangay New Abra for just over a month after relocating from Davao City, raising further questions about the motive behind the brutal attack.
The killings have sent shockwaves through the community and added to mounting concern over a series of violent incidents in Matalam, prompting calls for stronger security measures and faster justice.
Barangay New Abra officials appealed to residents to cooperate with authorities by providing any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects. Meanwhile, police have launched a manhunt and assured the public that intensified patrols and investigations are underway to prevent further bloodshed.
As Matalam remains on heightened alert, residents continue to grapple with fear and grief, demanding accountability as yet another family falls victim to senseless violence.