MALIDEGAO, Special Geographic Area, BARMM — A man was killed after being shot multiple times by still unidentified gunmen Sunday night, March 15, in a remote area of Barangay Batulawan in the Special Geographic Area (SGA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), police authorities confirmed.
According to the Philippine National Police–BARMM, the fatal shooting occurred at around 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Sitio Migkampong, Barangay Batulawan, a dimly lit area where few residents were present at the time of the attack.
The victim was identified by PNP-BARMM spokesperson Capt. Steffi Salanguit as Michael Pindelan Hasim, believed to be around 27 to 30 years old, a resident of Barangay Balungis, Malidegao, and reportedly unemployed.
Initial investigation by the Malidegao Municipal Police Station (MPS) revealed that the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest, which proved fatal. Responders rushed Hasim to Cruzado Medical Hospital in Pikit, North Cotabato, but attending physicians declared him dead on arrival.
Police investigators who processed the crime scene recovered several pieces of evidence believed to be connected to the attack. Among the items found were two empty shells from a 5.56mm firearm, one empty shell from a .45 caliber pistol, an improvised glass tooter commonly associated with illegal drug use, a lighter, and an unspecified amount of cash.
Authorities have yet to determine whether the recovered paraphernalia has a direct connection to the killing.
Police said the suspects fled immediately after the shooting, and their identities remain unknown as of this writing. No witnesses have yet come forward to provide details about the attackers or the circumstances leading to the incident.
Investigators are currently working to establish the motive behind the killing, including the possibility of personal conflict, criminal activity, or other motives, while efforts are underway to identify and track down the perpetrators.
The PNP-BARMM assured the public that a full-scale investigation is ongoing, and authorities are coordinating with local officials and community members in the area to gather additional information that could help solve the case.
The Special Geographic Area of BARMM, composed of several barangays in North Cotabato that voted to join the Bangsamoro region, has in recent years been undergoing administrative transition, with law enforcement agencies maintaining heightened vigilance against criminal incidents in remote communities.
Police urged anyone with information about the shooting to immediately coordinate with the nearest police station to assist in the investigation.