A 45-year-old man was shot dead by unidentified gunmen while riding a motorcycle in Barangay Dilembong, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao del Sur, at around 5:55 p.m. on August 23, 2026, in another fatal shooting reported in the province amid the implementation of an election gun ban ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro region.
The victim was identified as Ebrahim Kalotig Timbao, a married resident of Barangay Datu Bakal in Shariff Saydona Mustapha.
According to the initial investigation by the Shariff Saydona Mustapha Municipal Police Station (MPS), Timbao was riding an unregistered XRM-125 motorcycle and was reportedly on his way home when he was attacked.
Police said the assailants were riding a white Stingray motorcycle, also without a license plate, when they allegedly opened fire at the victim.
Timbao sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene.
Personnel of the Shariff Saydona Mustapha MPS, together with members of the Bravo Company of the Philippine Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion, immediately responded and launched a hot pursuit operation against the fleeing suspects.
However, the pursuing forces failed to catch up with the gunmen.
Nine 5.56mm Shell Casings Recovered
Investigators recovered nine spent bullet casings from the crime scene, which police said were believed to have been fired from a 5.56mm-caliber rifle.
The recovered evidence is expected to form part of the ongoing investigation as authorities work to determine the exact circumstances of the attack and identify those responsible.
Police are currently pursuing several investigative leads to establish the identities of the gunmen and determine the motive behind the killing.
Authorities have also coordinated with nearby police stations as part of a dragnet operation intended to prevent the suspects from escaping through surrounding areas.
As of the latest information available, no suspects have been publicly identified and no arrests have been reported.
Fatal Shooting Occurs Amid Election Gun Ban
The killing comes as heightened security measures are being implemented across the Bangsamoro region in preparation for the upcoming parliamentary elections, including restrictions on the carrying and possession of firearms during the election period.
The incident underscores the continuing security challenge confronting authorities in parts of Maguindanao del Sur, where armed attacks remain a concern despite intensified law enforcement and election-related security measures.
However, authorities have not established any connection between Timbao’s killing and the upcoming parliamentary elections. The motive remains under investigation, and there is currently no official confirmation that the shooting was politically motivated or election-related.
The implementation of a gun ban also does not automatically establish that the firearm allegedly used in the attack was possessed in violation of the election rules. That determination will depend on the ongoing police investigation and the circumstances surrounding the weapon and the suspects.
The recovery of nine casings believed to be from a 5.56mm rifle, however, indicates that investigators are examining the attack as a serious armed shooting and are working to trace the perpetrators through physical evidence, witness accounts and coordination with neighboring police units.
Authorities are expected to maintain heightened vigilance in surrounding communities as the investigation continues.
For now, the police investigation remains focused on answering three critical questions: Who carried out the attack, why was Timbao targeted, and where did the gunmen go after the shooting?
The Shariff Saydona Mustapha MPS continues to investigate the case, while the dragnet operation involving nearby police stations remains underway.