ZAMBOANGA CITY — A brutal and chilling attack rocked a quiet coastal community Friday night after gunmen stormed a family home in Sitio Mangga Bolong, Barangay Bolong, killing three members of the same household in what police describe as a ruthless and targeted shooting.
Authorities from the Zamboanga City Police Station 3 confirmed that the victims were identified as Rodel Tarroza Espinosa, 44, his wife Jenny Enriquez Espinosa, 43, and their 19-year-old daughter Jenrose Enriquez Espinosa, a college student. All were residents of Entrada Mangga Bolong.
According to the initial police investigation, the attack happened at around 8:55 p.m. on February 27, 2026, when still-unidentified assailants barged into the family’s residence and opened fire at close range. The victims were inside their home when they were shot multiple times, sustaining fatal gunshot wounds that caused their immediate deaths.
The massacre left the neighborhood in shock, as gunfire shattered the quiet evening in the seaside village.
Infant Miraculously Survives
Amid the bloodshed, a two-month-old infant who was inside the house at the time of the attack miraculously survived unharmed. Investigators said the baby was found alive after responders secured the scene, a detail that has both relieved and saddened residents and authorities alike.
Police Response and Evidence Recovered
Police received a report about the shooting at around 9:10 p.m., prompting an immediate response led by officers of the Zamboanga City Police Office. Upon arrival, responders found the three victims already lifeless inside the residence.
Crime scene investigators recovered seven spent shell casings from a 5.56-caliber firearm and a deformed slug, suggesting the use of a high-powered weapon in the attack. The discovery indicates the assault may have been deliberate and executed with lethal efficiency.
The suspects fled immediately after the shooting and remain at large.
Manhunt Underway
Police units, supported by operatives from the Police Regional Office 9 and troops from the Western Mindanao Command, have launched dragnet and hot pursuit operations across nearby communities and possible escape routes.
Investigators are now working to determine the motive behind the attack, including whether the killings were related to a personal dispute, targeted retaliation, or other criminal angles.
Community Shaken
Residents of Barangay Bolong described the incident as one of the most disturbing crimes to hit the area in recent memory, as the victims were reportedly inside their home when they were attacked—an act that has intensified fear and anger among locals.
Police are urging anyone with information that could help identify the gunmen or clarify the motive to immediately coordinate with authorities.
“This is a grave and senseless crime,” an investigator said, adding that all leads are now being pursued to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The investigation remains ongoing.