PRESIDENT QUIRINO, SULTAN KUDARAT — A 43-year-old tricycle driver was wounded after he was allegedly ambushed and shot by two unidentified men in Barangay Bayawa, President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat, on Wednesday morning, September 2, 2026.
The victim was identified as Saleym Sumapal Calimbul, 43, married and reported to be a resident of Poblacion Buluan in Maguindanao del Sur.
Initial police information placed the shooting at around 8:30 a.m. in Purok 3, Barangay Bayawa, where Calimbul was traveling aboard his tricycle from Tacurong City toward Buluan.
According to the initial investigation, two men riding a Bajaj motorcycle allegedly chased the victim before one of them opened fire. Authorities said the attackers fled immediately after the shooting.
Calimbul sustained gunshot wounds, with initial reports indicating that he was hit in the hand. He was promptly taken to a hospital for medical treatment and was later reported to be in stable condition.
Police investigators recovered nine spent cartridge cases believed to be from a caliber .45 firearm at the scene.
Authorities immediately launched a hot pursuit operation to locate and arrest the two unidentified suspects. Police are also working to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack, including the identities of the assailants and the motive behind the shooting.
The motive remains undetermined as the investigation continues.
Police have yet to release additional details regarding the suspects, including their identities and the specific circumstances that may have preceded the attack.
Authorities are expected to examine the recovered evidence and gather statements from witnesses as part of the ongoing investigation.
The incident has prompted continued police efforts to track down the gunmen, while investigators work to determine whether the attack was targeted and what may have led to the shooting.