Armed gunmen shoot dead 3, injure 2 near Cotabato City fish pond — 3 killed and 2 seriously injured in gunfire near a fish pond in Cotabato City, Mindanao

Armed gunmen shoot dead 3, injure 2 near Cotabato City fish pond — 3 killed and 2 seriously injured in gunfire near a fish pond in Cotabato City, Mindanao

📌 On the morning of Friday, October 23, gunmen armed with rifles opened fire near a fish pond close to Timako Hill in Barangay Kalanganan 2, Cotabato City, Mindanao. Three people were killed and two were seriously wounded. It was the second shooting in the city in as many days, following an ambush on Philippine Coast Guard personnel the day before. The attackers fled in a vehicle.

■ Incident details
· Armed men attacked the victims with rifles while they were near the fish pond. Three victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene.
· Barangay officials took the two wounded persons to a medical center in the Cotabato region.
· Bulgar, citing the Bangsamoro regional police office (PRO-BAR), reported that the shooting happened at around 7:40 a.m. The victims were meeting a counterpart to conduct a business transaction, and three men who got out of a white Toyota Hilux opened fire. Among the dead was a 53-year-old businessman.

■ Investigation and current status
· According to barangay officials, the gunmen fled in a white pickup truck (Toyota Hilux), and no arrests have been made.
· Police and local officials are working to identify the perpetrators. The motive has not been confirmed; Bulgar reported that investigators are looking into a long-running family feud and possible business extortion.
· On the afternoon of Thursday, October 22, a vehicle carrying Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel was also ambushed in Cotabato City.

■ Notes for residents and travelers
· Shootings have been occurring repeatedly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), including Cotabato City. Limit visits to essential trips and check safety advisories from your embassy and local authorities.
· Conduct transactions or meetings with people you do not know in crowded, public places rather than in remote areas.

■ Sources
Philstar (10/23, 10/24); Bulgar (10/24 — the time and circumstances of the meeting were confirmed by one source)

■ Photos
· Scientific investigation unit (SOCO) examining the shooting scene — Philstar