A 59-year-old man was shot dead in a brazen ambush attack along a highway in Calanogas, Lanao del Sur on Thursday, March 19, authorities confirmed.
The victim, identified as Jamail Mindalano, a resident of Barangay Curahab in the neighboring town of Malabang, was found lifeless in the driver’s seat of his vehicle following the attack.
Initial police reports said Mindalano was driving his green Toyota Revo with license plate XNW 465 en route to Marawi City when he was ambushed upon reaching Narciso Ramos Highway in Barangay Punud, Calanogas.
According to the Philippine National Police in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP-BARMM), the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the face and chest, resulting in his instantaneous death.
Authorities have identified the suspect as a certain alias “Mamalo,” a 44-year-old resident of Barangay Pantaon, Calanogas. However, as of this writing, the suspect remains at large.
Investigators recovered several empty shell casings from a .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene, indicating the weapon used in the killing.
Earlier reports described the victim only as “Jalal,” but subsequent police verification confirmed his identity as Mindalano.
The motive behind the ambush remains unclear, and police are continuing their investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack and to establish whether other individuals were involved.
The incident has raised concerns among residents, prompting renewed calls for peace and unity in the community as authorities intensify efforts to bring the perpetrator to justice.