Assassination is normal in the Philippines not only for government officials but also for regular citizens. The most common method of assassination for both citizens and officials is a motorcycle duo riding up on the target and then blasting them away. This series will document the number of citizens assassinated on a monthly basis. These stories are to be distinguished from regular murder cases which happen on a daily basis.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/05/gunmen-fatally-shoot-septuagenarian-in-negros |
A 74-year-old woman was shot dead by unidentified armed men in Purok Halimbawa, Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
Police identified the victim as Leonor, the owner of a house where seven New People’s Army (NPA) rebels reportedly stayed and killed in series of encounters with soldiers in April 2025.
Investigation said three armed men approached the victim’s husband and inquired about his wife’s whereabouts. He accompanied the suspects to the house of the victim’s sister.
The suspects told him to go inside and introduced themselves as NPA while the victim was instructed to go to the balcony.
A gunshot followed and the victim was found lying on the ground with a bullet wound in the head.
Recovered from the crime scene was a fired 9mm bullet.
The Army 15th Infantry Battalion condemned the killing and condoled with the victim’s family.
They called on the public to remain calm, refrain from speculation, and support authorities by providing any information that may help in the ongoing investigation.
Police are conducting follow-up investigation.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2182232/electric-coop-director-shot-dead-in-oriental-mindoro |
A ranking official of the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (ORMECO) was shot dead Friday night in Pinamalayan town, police said.
In an exchange of emails on Saturday morning, PLt. Col. Joel Paningbatan, chief of the Pinamalayan Police Station, identified the victim as Tony Mendeja, 64, a member of ORMECO’s board of directors representing the municipalities of Bongabong and Bansud.
Paningbatan said Mendeja had pulled over his Isuzu D-Max vehicle along a roadside in Barangay Del Razon at around 8:30 p.m. to check the vehicle’s lights.
Minutes later, a lone gunman riding a motorcycle arrived and shot the victim.
The suspect, described as wearing a white T-shirt and riding a black motorcycle, fled after the shooting.
Mendeja was rushed to a community hospital but later succumbed to a gunshot wound that struck his side, police said.
“The gun that was used is still of an unknown caliber, and we are still waiting for the SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operatives) report,” said Paningbatan.
Authorities said the victim had just come from Calapan City, where he attended a memorandum of agreement signing for a solar lights project, before the attack.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/976576/ex-miss-philippines-earth-runner-up-gunned-down-in-isabela/story/ |
A 32-year-old public school teacher and former national beauty pageant finalist was gunned down early Friday evening, Feb. 13, while seated inside her vehicle outside her residence in San Manuel, Isabela, authorities said.
Police identified the victim as Lullete Jane Ramilo-De Guzman, who was inside a sport utility vehicle with her three children when the attack occurred at about 6:45 p.m. in Barangay Cabaritan.
Investigators said the victim’s father had just stepped out to open their gate when an unidentified assailant, riding a motorcycle without a license plate, entered the area and fired multiple shots at close range.
The gunman then sped away toward the eastern section of the town along the national highway, police said.
Ramilo-De Guzman sustained gunshot wounds to the face and torso. She was taken to Manuel Roxas District Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Her children were not injured but were reported to be in shock after witnessing the incident.
The victim had represented her hometown in pageantry and placed as a runner-up in the 2013 edition of Miss Philippines-Earth, where she also received several special awards.
She later pursued a career in education after completing a degree at University of Perpetual Help System-Isabela campus.
Police said they are examining several angles, including personal and professional motives, but no suspect has been identified so far.
Police Major Rogelio Natividad, chief of police, said they were still gathering evidence and conducting follow-up investigation, and that authorities had yet to establish a clear motive.
Authorities are awaiting forensic findings to determine the type of firearm used and have appealed to residents to share any information that may help identify the attacker.
The victim’s husband, Clifford Dela Cruz, had to rush back to Isabela from Manila after learning of the shooting.
In a Facebook post, Dela Cruz condemned what he described as a senseless act driven by ill will and expressed anguish over seeing their children grieve.
He expressed grief and disbelief over her killing, recounting their final conversation about half an hour before she was shot, making plans to spend time together once he returned home.
Dela Cruz said he was shocked when he received a call from his mother
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/13/man-shot-dead-in-front-of-mall |
An 18-year-old man was shot dead and his companion was wounded in front of a shopping mall in Barangay 9 here on Thursday night, Feb. 12.
Police Col. Eugene Rebadomia, officer-in-charge of the Bacolod City Police Office, identified the victim as Christian, a resident of Barangay 6, this city.
Rebadomia said the incident was first reported as a traffic accident. However, further verification revealed that it was a shooting.
Initial investigation showed that the victims – Christian, the back rider, and Nognog, the driver – stopped in a traffic light when a man appeared and shot them in the head.
Bystanders initially believed the incident was an accident.
The victims were taken to a hospital where Christian was declared dead and Nognog recovering.
Authorities recovered two .38 caliber revolvers from the victims. Four spent shells from a .45 caliber firearm were found at the crime scene.
“We are taking this incident seriously. We will not tolerate this kind of violence in the city,” said Rebadomia.
Police are conducting backtracking operations and profiling the victims who are allegedly involved in robbery-holdup incidents here.
“There is a possibility that they are linked to holdup incidents, including the so-called ‘tuktuk kalawit’ modus, where suspects flag down tricycles and threaten drivers at gunpoint to steal their mobile phones,” Rebadomia said.
Authorities are also looking into their possible connections to illegal drugs. Investigators are examining the victims’ motorcycle to find out if it was stolen or legally owned.
Police have identified persons of interest.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/17/maguindanao-del-sur-mayors-nephew-killed-in-ambush |
A daylight ambush along a national highway in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town on Tuesday left one dead and two injured, including the brother of Shariff Aguak Mayor Akmad Ampatuan Sr., police reported.
Police Capt. Steffi Salanguit, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, said the victims were on board a black Nissan Livina traveling from Cotabato City to Shariff Aguak when a white mini-van without a license plate tailed them and opened fire with assault rifles at about 11 a.m.
Despite his injuries, the driver, Datu Morsid Ampatuan – the mayor's nephew – managed to reach an Army checkpoint in Datu Unsay but later passed away in a hospital.
Injured were Yasser Ampatuan, 49, the mayor's brother, and Lemon Bangen, 36, a resident of Datu Hofer Ampatuan. They are receiving treatment at the Bangsamoro Regional Medical Center.
Mayor Ampatuan Sr. survived a separate rocket-propelled grenade ambush in Shariff Aguak on Jan. 25.
Salanguit said the motive remains unknown and an investigation is ongoing.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/19/puerto-princesa-airport-manager-shot-dead-on-ash-wednesday |
An official of the Puerto Princesa International Airport in Palawan was gunned down on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18.
The victim was identified as acting manager Joanna Jonson-Infante.
Investigation said the victim was walking on Bayview Road in Barangay San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City at about 5:30 p.m. when a man appeared from behind and shot her.
The gunman fled and the victim was taken to a hospital where she was declared dead.
Police have formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to further investigate the incident and fast-track the arrest of the suspect.
Lawmen urged people with information about the incident to get in touch with the Puerto Princesa Police Station 1 at 09985985903 or the Puerto Princesa City Police Office at 09778557732.
“Your timely cooperation is vital to the successful resolution of this case, the upholding of the rule of law, and the preservation of peace and order in our community,” the Puerto Princesa City Police Office said.
The Civil Aeronautics Administration of the Philippines condemned the murder of Infante.
Officials called on authorities to conduct a thorough and swift probe to hold those behind the crime accountable.
CAAP, led by retired Lt. Gen. Raul del Rosario, vowed close coordination with local law enforcement agencies and full cooperation in the ongoing investigation.
