SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao del Sur — A brazen riding-in-tandem shooting inside a motorcycle parts shop left one person dead and three others wounded on Thursday, April 30, sending shockwaves across this provincial capital and prompting an intensified police manhunt.
Authorities identified the crime scene as Pitsbike Motor Parts, where armed suspects abruptly opened fire at four individuals. The sudden burst of gunfire turned the establishment into a scene of chaos, with victims scrambling for safety as bullets rang out.
The Maguindanao del Sur Police Provincial Office confirmed that one of the victims succumbed to gunshot wounds, while three others were rushed to the Bangsamoro Hospital for emergency treatment. Their conditions have not yet been fully disclosed.
Investigators recovered at least 14 spent shell casings from the scene, believed to have come from a 9mm pistol—an indication of the volume and intensity of the attack. Initial findings suggest the assailants deliberately targeted the victims, though authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the shooting.
Crucially, the suspects were captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, providing law enforcement with vital leads. Police have since released images of the gunmen to aid in their identification and immediate arrest.
Witness accounts and CCTV footage indicate the attackers fled swiftly on a motorcycle, heading toward the Shariff Aguak rotunda. This triggered a hot pursuit operation, with police units deployed across possible escape routes in a bid to intercept the suspects.
Simultaneously, intelligence monitoring operations are underway to establish the identities of the perpetrators and uncover possible links to organized criminal activity or personal vendetta—common motives in similar riding-in-tandem attacks in the region.
Police authorities assured the public of a thorough and relentless investigation, emphasizing that all angles are being pursued. They also issued a strong appeal for community cooperation, urging residents to come forward with any information that could accelerate the arrest of those responsible.
“This incident underscores the need for vigilance and collective action,” authorities said, stressing that public safety remains a top priority.
As the manhunt continues, the killing adds to growing concerns over gun violence and the persistent threat posed by motorcycle-riding assailants in parts of Mindanao, where such attacks have long been associated with targeted killings.