COTABATO CITY — A man who survived a shooting attack nearly four months ago was killed in a second gun attack Tuesday morning, August 25, in Purok Lumbayanague, Barangay Kalanganan 2, Cotabato City—an incident that occurred amid the strict implementation of the election-period gun ban in the region.
The victim was identified by the Cotabato City Police Office (CCPO) as Tulon Guinta Abas, an adult resident of Mother Barangay Tamontaka.
Police Station 3 said Abas was with his wife at around 8:15 a.m. when they went to the area to settle a lending obligation. While they were there, an armed man reportedly approached Abas and opened fire using what police believe was a .45-caliber handgun.
Abas sustained multiple gunshot wounds to different parts of his body and died at the scene. Investigators recovered six fired cartridge cases and three fired slugs from the crime scene.
Police are treating alias “U” as a person of interest, along with another unidentified man who was reportedly riding a black motorcycle without a license plate. The suspects fled the area after the shooting, prompting police units to launch hot-pursuit and dragnet operations.
The killing is particularly notable because it happened while authorities are enforcing a strict gun ban in the region, making the reported use of a firearm in the daylight attack another challenge for law enforcement efforts to prevent armed violence and unauthorized possession or carrying of firearms.
Survived First Attack in April
On April 8, 2026, Abas was among two men seriously wounded in a daylight shooting in Purok Bario Bagu, Mother Barangay Tamontaka.
Initial police information at the time indicated that Abas and Yasser Latip Pinto were standing and talking when four armed men arrived aboard two motorcycles and opened fire. The attackers reportedly used an M16 rifle, striking both victims multiple times.
Both men were rushed to a hospital for treatment and survived the attack.
Police identified the suspects in that April shooting as Norodin Mama, Guiabar Polo, Camarudin Agid, and Sulaiman Polo. Authorities at the time considered a personal grudge as a possible motive and launched follow-up operations, including checkpoints and tightened security measures in surrounding areas.
According to Abas’ wife, the man killed Tuesday had previously been targeted by the same suspect during the April 8 shooting.
Police have yet to establish the full circumstances behind Tuesday’s killing, including the motive and the identities and roles of all those involved.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue efforts to locate the persons of interest and the unidentified motorcycle rider.
Following the shooting, Abas’ family brought his remains home for Muslim burial rites.