DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao del Norte — A 49-year-old motorcyclist was shot dead by still unidentified gunmen in a brazen broad daylight attack in Sitio Tuka, Barangay Taviran, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, on Monday morning, August 3, highlighting renewed concerns over the persistence of gun violence despite the ongoing election gun ban in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The victim was identified by police as Jhon Salik, also known as “Doy,” a resident of Barangay Dadtumeg in the neighboring municipality of Kabuntalan. Earlier reports from relatives initially identified the victim only as “Jonnex” before authorities later confirmed his identity.
According to the initial police investigation, Salik was riding his motorcycle at around 9:00 a.m. when he was reportedly tailed by two armed men riding another motorcycle. Upon catching up with the victim, the assailants allegedly opened fire at close range before fleeing the scene immediately after the attack.
Authorities said the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head, resulting in his instantaneous death. Responding police officers declared him dead at the scene.
Crime scene investigators recovered three spent shell casings and one deformed slug, which will undergo forensic examination as part of the ongoing investigation.
The attack occurred near a national high school, raising alarm among residents over the brazenness of the assailants, who carried out the killing in an area frequented by students and motorists.
Police have yet to determine the motive behind the killing. Investigators are currently examining all possible angles, including whether the attack was connected to personal conflict, criminal activity, or other motives.
The Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station has launched a hot pursuit operation to identify and arrest the perpetrators, who managed to escape immediately after the shooting.
The latest incident also occurred while the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) continues to enforce a gun ban in BARMM in preparation for the upcoming Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections, where the unauthorized carrying of firearms is strictly prohibited unless exempted by the Commission.
The fatal shooting adds to a growing number of gun-related incidents reported in parts of the Bangsamoro region despite heightened security measures and intensified police and military operations aimed at preventing election-related violence.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have witnessed the attack or possesses information that could help identify the suspects to immediately coordinate with the nearest police station as the investigation continues.