KADAYANGAN, Special Geographic Area (SGA)-BARMM — Another wave of gun violence rocked the Bangsamoro region Tuesday morning after unidentified armed men opened fire on a group of civilians in Barangay Malingao, leaving two people dead and seven others wounded in a broad daylight shooting that sent residents scrambling in fear.
The attack occurred at around 8:00 to 8:40 a.m. on June 2, 2026, in Purok 4, Barangay Malingao, Kadayangan, SGA-BARMM, highlighting once again the continuing problem of loose firearms and armed violence in conflict-affected communities in Mindanao.
Authorities identified the fatalities as Musalik Talusan Balang, 45, a married resident of Purok 6, Barangay Malingao, and Haron Boliongan, 35, also married and a resident of Purok 4 of the same barangay.
Among the wounded was Romeo Lombo, a resident of Barangay Glad, Midsayap, North Cotabato, while six other victims were rushed to hospitals in Midsayap for emergency treatment. Authorities said the identities of some of the injured were still being verified as of press time.
Initial police reports said terrified residents immediately transported the victims using “payong-payong” or improvised motorcycles with sidecars due to the urgency of the situation and the lack of immediate ambulance access in the area. Witnesses described scenes of panic as gunfire erupted in the community, forcing civilians to seek cover while others desperately tried to save the wounded.
According to PNP-BARMM spokesperson Capt. Steffi Salanguit, responding police officers from the Kadayangan Municipal Police Station were dispatched to the scene after receiving a call from Barangay Chairman Norodin Dilangalen regarding the shooting incident.
The responding team, led by Police Lieutenant Julito E. Gonzales, officer-in-charge of the municipal police station, found several victims sprawled on the ground upon arrival. One of the victims was reportedly still alive and was immediately transported to the Midsayap District Hospital for medical treatment.
Crime scene investigators recovered several empty shell casings believed to have come from 5.56mm firearms, indicating the possible use of high-powered rifles in the attack.
Authorities have yet to determine the exact motive behind the shooting, and the identities of the gunmen remain unknown. Follow-up operations and pursuit efforts are now underway as police intensify their investigation.
The Philippine National Police has also coordinated with the 33rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army to strengthen security operations and establish perimeter control in the area amid fears of possible retaliation or further violence.
The latest bloodshed adds to growing concerns over the persistent proliferation of firearms and recurring armed attacks in parts of the Bangsamoro region and nearby communities. Residents have repeatedly raised fears over the ease with which heavily armed suspects can launch attacks even in populated areas during daytime.
Despite ongoing security campaigns in BARMM, incidents involving gun violence, private armed groups, and unresolved clan-related conflicts continue to threaten civilian safety in vulnerable communities across the region.
As grieving families mourn the dead and several victims continue to fight for their lives in hospitals, authorities face mounting pressure to swiftly identify the perpetrators and prevent another deadly attack from unfolding in the already tension-filled area of the Special Geographic Area.