PARANG, Maguindanao del Norte — A 43-year-old man was wounded in a shooting incident in Barangay Nituan, Parang, on Monday morning, October 12, 2026, leading to the arrest of a 37-year-old suspect following a police hot pursuit operation.
The victim was identified as Saro Mindalano Basak, a resident of Barangay Gadungan, Parang. The suspect was identified in a police report as Dondon Martin, a resident of RH6 Santos, Cotabato City. An earlier account referred to the suspect as “Donskie”; authorities have yet to clarify the discrepancy in the name.
According to the initial police investigation, the incident occurred at around 7:30 a.m. while Basak was walking along the roadside in Barangay Nituan. The suspect allegedly approached him from behind, drew an unidentified firearm, and fired twice.
The gunshots struck the victim in his right leg, leaving him wounded. Following the shooting, the suspect allegedly fled the scene with the firearm used in the attack.
Basak sought assistance and was brought to Iranon District Hospital for initial medical treatment. He was subsequently transferred to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center for further medical care.
The Parang Municipal Police Station received a report of the incident at approximately 8:15 a.m. and immediately launched a hot pursuit operation to locate the fleeing suspect.
The operation led to the suspect’s arrest at around 9 a.m. in Barangay Nituan, approximately an hour and a half after the shooting. He was then brought to the police station for booking procedures, documentation, and mugshot-taking.
Police investigators are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the motive behind the attack. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether the victim and the suspect knew each other or whether a personal dispute preceded the incident.
The firearm allegedly used in the shooting has also not been specifically identified in the initial reports.
The police are preparing the appropriate criminal charges against the suspect, subject to the completion of the investigation and evaluation of the available evidence.
The swift arrest marks an immediate development in the case, but investigators must still establish the full circumstances of the shooting and determine the evidence that will support the filing of formal charges.
Authorities have yet to release further details on the victim’s condition and the possible motive for the attack.