KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato — Residents of Labastida Street in Poblacion, Kidapawan City were jolted awake by a burst of gunfire early Wednesday, August 26, after an SUV was found bearing what appeared to be three bullet strikes on the portion of the windshield near the driver’s seat.
The incident occurred at around midnight, according to former Barangay Kagawad Ruel Anima, whose family lives near the area. Anima said they were awakened by successive gunshots and immediately went outside to check what had happened.
They reportedly found spent bullet casings on the road and the SUV, which was described as belonging to Anima’s brother-in-law, with three apparent bullet impacts on the glass portion near the driver’s side.
Anima also recounted hearing several motorcycles apparently chasing one another through an alley shortly before the shooting. This led him and his family to believe that the gunfire may have been connected to activity involving other individuals in the area rather than directed at them.
In a social media post following the incident, Anima sought to reassure concerned residents about his safety, saying that he had no known enemies and that his family had maintained a private lifestyle.
He also suggested that the SUV may have inadvertently become involved in what he described as potentially unlawful activity occurring elsewhere in the city.
“Wala tay kalaban o nakalaban sukad pa sa una,” Anima said in his post, adding that he does not normally associate with groups in drinking establishments and that his family keeps to itself.
Suspected illegal drugs found nearby
Adding another element to the investigation, authorities reportedly recovered a substance believed to be shabu from the roadway near where the SUV was found.
The recovery has prompted investigators to examine whether the suspected illegal drug has any connection to the shooting or to the individuals who may have been involved in the reported motorcycle chase.
At this stage, however, authorities have not publicly established a link between the suspected shabu, the SUV and the gunfire.
Police personnel responded to the area and conducted an initial examination of the scene, including the recovery of evidence that could help determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Investigators are expected to establish the identity and whereabouts of the individuals involved, determine who fired the shots, and clarify why the SUV was targeted or struck.
They will also determine whether the vehicle was occupied when the shooting occurred and whether the reported motorcycle chase immediately preceding the gunfire forms part of the same incident.
No confirmed motive yet
Authorities have yet to release a definitive statement on the motive behind the shooting.
The bullet impacts on the vehicle, spent casings recovered from the area and the suspected illegal drug reportedly found nearby are now among the pieces of evidence being considered as investigators reconstruct the sequence of events.
As of Wednesday, there were no confirmed reports of injuries or fatalities resulting from the shooting.
The incident comes amid continuing concerns over gun-related violence and illegal drug activity in communities across Mindanao, making the authorities’ determination of the circumstances particularly important.
Investigators are expected to verify Anima’s account, examine available evidence from the crime scene, and determine whether the reported motorcycle chase was connected to the shooting.
Until the investigation is completed, authorities have not identified any suspect and have not confirmed any motive.
The recovery of the suspected shabu also remains subject to proper forensic examination and confirmation by authorities. Its mere discovery near the vehicle does not, by itself, establish that it was connected to the shooting.
Police are continuing their investigation as efforts remain underway to identify those responsible and determine what triggered the gunfire in the heart of Kidapawan City.