A 20-year-old student was shot dead by an unidentified assailant while riding his motorcycle in Barangay Cannery, Polomolok, South Cotabato, shortly after midnight on April 18, 2026, police said.
Initial investigation revealed that the victim was traversing the national highway in Purok Pag-asa aboard his Honda XRM motorcycle when an unknown gunman suddenly opened fire. The attack occurred at around 12:00 a.m., catching the victim off guard as he was in transit.
Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, the victim was declared dead on arrival as a result of gunshot wounds sustained during the attack.
Authorities have yet to release the identity of the victim pending notification of his family.
Police investigators are currently reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from establishments near the crime scene in an effort to identify and track down the suspect or suspects behind the killing. A follow-up operation is also underway as part of the ongoing investigation.
As of this writing, authorities have not established a clear motive for the crime, and the case remains under active investigation.