RAJAH BUAYAN, Maguindanao del Sur — A 39-year-old farmer was killed on the spot after being shot in a brazen midday attack along the national highway in Barangay Mileb on Sunday, February 1, police said.
The victim was identified as Datu Adzis Kanakan Utto, also known as “Mandangan,” a married farmer and resident of Barangay Mileb. The shooting occurred shortly after 12:30 p.m., while the victim was riding his motorcycle through the area.
Initial police investigation revealed that the suspect suddenly appeared on board a black Stingray motorcycle and opened fire at close range using an undetermined caliber of firearm. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the head, resulting in his immediate death.
The Rajah Buayan Municipal Police Station (MPS) said it received a call from a concerned citizen reporting the shooting, prompting investigators and an alert team to respond to the scene. Authorities coordinated with the SSB MPS and the 34th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army to conduct dragnet and checkpoint operations in nearby areas in an attempt to track down the assailant.
However, investigators said no spent bullet casings were recovered at the crime scene, complicating efforts to identify the weapon used and the suspect involved.
The victim’s remains were immediately taken by his relatives for Muslim burial rites, in accordance with Islamic tradition.
Police said the Investigation-on-Case (IOC) will coordinate closely with the victim’s family as authorities pursue a deeper investigation to determine the motive behind the killing and identify those responsible.
As of this writing, the suspect remains at large and the investigation is ongoing.