PIKIT, Cotabato — A 33-year-old cellphone technician was seriously injured after he was shot by an unidentified gunman while allegedly dropping coins into a vendo WiFi machine in Barangay Silik, Pikit, Cotabato on Saturday evening, May 9, 2026.
The victim was identified as Haron Kudarat, married and a resident of Barangay Bualan, Tugunan, Special Geographic Area (SGA)-BARMM, who was reportedly residing in Barangay Silik after getting married there.
Based on initial reports, the shooting happened around 6:00 p.m. while Kudarat was near a vendo peso WiFi machine in the village. Witnesses said the victim was suddenly attacked and shot multiple times by an unidentified suspect before the gunman immediately fled the scene.
Authorities said Kudarat sustained gunshot wounds in different parts of his body. He was first rushed to a nearby hospital before being transferred to a larger medical facility for further treatment due to the severity of his injuries.
A bystander, identified only as the child of a barangay kagawad of Barangay Silik, was also caught in the incident and suffered injuries after being hit during the attack. The victim was reportedly near the crime scene when the shooting occurred.
Investigators are still determining whether the child was struck by a stray bullet or injured amid the chaos that followed the gunfire.
Residents in the area expressed alarm over the latest shooting incident in the municipality, particularly as the attack occurred in a populated area where civilians were present.
Police authorities have launched an ongoing investigation to determine the motive behind the attack and identify the suspect responsible for the shooting. As of this writing, no arrests have been made.
The incident adds to growing security concerns in some remote barangays of Pikit, where authorities continue to monitor peace and order situations following a series of violent incidents in recent months.