AMPATUAN, Maguindanao del Sur — Two young children were wounded after unidentified gunmen riddled a family home with gunfire at midday on Tuesday, July 21, in Barangay Dicalongan Poblacion, Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, underscoring persistent security concerns despite the ongoing gun ban being enforced across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Police said the attack occurred at around 12:30 p.m. when two unidentified assailants, both wearing black bonnets, arrived aboard a black Honda XRM motorcycle without a license plate and opened fire on the residence of Norhoman “Kolman” M. Sabpa.
Inside the house, a three-year-old boy, identified only by the alias “Datu,” was watching television while his mother, Khulud Sangki Sabpa, was preparing lunch in the kitchen.
As bullets ripped through the house, the three-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to his right lower leg. Another child inside the residence was also struck during the attack, bringing the total number of child victims to two.
Both children were immediately rushed to the Maguindanao Provincial Hospital, where they received emergency medical treatment. Authorities later confirmed that the two victims are now in stable condition.
Initial police investigation indicated that the intended target of the attack was not hit. Instead, the indiscriminate burst of gunfire endangered innocent members of the household, particularly the children.
Crime scene investigators recovered 12 spent shell casings believed to be from an M16 rifle, indicating the attackers used a high-powered firearm. The shell casings have been submitted for forensic examination as investigators work to establish additional evidence that could help identify the perpetrators.
Following the shooting, the suspects fled toward an undetermined direction before responding authorities could intercept them.
The Ampatuan Municipal Police Station immediately responded to the incident under the leadership of Police Lieutenant Patrick Dangalo and personnel of the Philippine National Police operating under the supervision of Police Captain Tamayo.
The emergency response was reinforced by the Ampatuan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), personnel from the office of Municipal Mayor Datu Rasul M. Sangki, the Barangay Poblacion officials, and soldiers from the 90th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Molino under the direction of Lt. Col. Marco, who helped secure the area and support law enforcement operations.
Authorities launched dragnet and checkpoint operations in coordination with nearby police stations and units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in an effort to track down the fleeing gunmen.
Investigators are continuing to examine possible motives behind the attack, although no official statement has yet been released regarding whether the shooting was connected to a personal grudge, political rivalry, or another criminal motive.
The incident adds to growing concerns over gun-related violence in the region despite the implementation of the BARMM-wide gun ban in preparation for the upcoming Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections.
Police vowed to pursue all available leads and assured the public that operations will continue until those responsible for the attack are identified and brought to justice.
The shooting left the victims’ family traumatized, particularly after two innocent children became unintended casualties of the brazen daylight assault. Authorities continue to appeal to anyone with information that could assist the investigation to coordinate with the nearest police station.