Lifeless giant reptile with gunshot wound in head drifts into Tawi-Tawi fishing village

• A 10.5-foot saltwater crocodile was discovered dead on January 7, 2026, entangled in a boat's rope in Barangay Luuk Buntal
• Local officials identified a suspected gunshot wound on the animal's head, suggesting it may have been intentionally killed
• Based on the carcass's decomposed state, authorities believe the reptile died days ago and was carried to the area by ocean currents
• While Tawi-Tawi is known for crocodile sightings, this is reportedly the first time a carcass has been found in this specific coastal barangay

A discovery that would typically spark fear instead brought a somber silence to the shores of Tawi-Tawi this week.

On Wednesday morning, January 7, 2026, the residents of Panglima Sugala were met with a tragic sight, a massive saltwater crocodile, measuring an impressive 10.5 feet, was found floating lifelessly in the turquoise waters.

The carcass was first spotted by a fisherman in Barangay Luuk Buntal while he was tending to his boat.

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The reptile had become entangled in a rope tied to the vessel, bobbing with the tide. Barangay Chairman Bing Jahama, who was among the first to arrive at the scene, noted that the animal appeared to have been dead for several days, as its skin had already begun to peel away from its body.

What made the find particularly disturbing was a distinct wound on the crocodile's head—a hole that authorities and locals believe was caused by a bullet.

The location of the discovery is considered open sea and not a natural habitat for these reptiles, suggesting the animal was killed elsewhere and carried by the currents to Panglima Sugala.

While Panglima Sugala has reported crocodile attacks in its mainland areas in the past, this is the first time one has been found in the coastal waters of Barangay Luuk Buntal.

Tawi-Tawi has seen an increase in human-crocodile encounters over the last year, leading to a tense relationship between residents and these apex predators.

Despite the danger these animals can pose, they are protected under Philippine law. Environmental advocates often remind the public that killing them, even out of fear, disturbs the delicate balance of the local ecosystem.

Following a brief investigation, the village officials and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) arranged for the immediate burial of the carcass to prevent health risks to the community.

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The death of this 10-foot giant remains a mystery, serving as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle to find a peaceful coexistence between the people of Tawi-Tawi and the ancient reptiles that share their islands.

In other news, a vendor in Baseco, Tondo, lost approximately ₱32,430 from his digital wallet after a suspect repeatedly claimed "network errors" during several failed cash-in attempts. The victim, Sammy Cayao, believed his balance was untouched after the app showed no confirmation, only to realize later that each "failed" scan had actually authorized a hidden withdrawal from his account. Police tracked down the tricycle used to escape the scene; the driver was apprehended and admitted to being friends with the suspect, though he denied knowing about the fraudulent scheme. While one individual is in custody, authorities are actively pursuing the primary suspect—the "customer" who performed the scans—as they prepare formal charges for digital theft and fraud.

Still in other news, the law enforcement community is mourning Police Senior Master Sergeant Reymundo Maramag, who died on January 4, 2026, after his motorcycle struck a utility post along the highway in Cordon, Isabela. Dashcam footage revealed that after the initial crash, the 43-year-old officer was thrown into the path of an oncoming refrigerated van, which was unable to stop in time to avoid the secondary collision. Maramag was a respected member of the PNP’s Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG), a specialized unit based at the National Headquarters in Camp Crame. While the van driver cooperated with the police and remains in custody for questioning, investigators are looking into whether mechanical failure or a medical episode caused the officer to lose control.

Source: KAMI.com.gh