Four relatives, including teenagers, gunned down while walking home in Matalam, Cotabato

• Four family members, including three teenagers, were killed in a brutal ambush in Barangay New Abra, Matalam, on Thursday night
• The victims were walking home after visiting a neighbor to use a Wi-Fi connection when unidentified gunmen opened fire on the group
• A 14-year-old boy is currently fighting for his life in the hospital after surviving the shooting with severe injuries
• Matalam police are investigating potential motives, including local feuds, as a manhunt continues for the escaped suspects

Four relatives, including three teenagers, were gunned down while walking home in Matalam, Cotabato on Thursday evening, January 29, 2026.

The victims had just spent the evening at a neighbor’s house to access a Wi-Fi connection—a common social activity in the area—when they were ambushed by unidentified gunmen.

The victims were identified as a 20-year-old male, a 16-year-old girl, and two young boys aged 12 and 11.

According to the Matalam Municipal Police, the group was traversing a dark stretch of road in Purok 6, Sitio New Esrael, Barangay New Abra, around 7:30 p.m. when the assailants opened fire.

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A fifth victim, a 14-year-old boy, managed to survive the initial volley of gunfire but sustained serious injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and remains in critical condition.

Authorities noted that the sheer violence of the attack suggests the perpetrators intended to leave no survivors among the group.

Police investigators recovered several spent shells from the scene, though the caliber of the firearms used has yet to be publicly confirmed.

As of Sunday, February 1, the motive behind the cold-blooded shooting remains a mystery. Local officials are currently exploring whether the attack was a result of a personal grudge, a "rido" (clan feud), or a case of mistaken identity.

"We are looking into all possible angles," a spokesperson for the Cotabato Police Provincial Office stated. "The fact that most of the victims were so young makes this an especially heinous crime. We are working closely with the barangay leadership to gather any eyewitness testimony that could lead to an arrest."

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Barangay New Abra has been placed under heightened alert following the incident. Local leaders have urged residents to stay indoors after dark and to report any suspicious activity to the police.

The ambush has sparked outrage across the province, with many calling for a swift resolution to ensure justice for the young victims.

The municipality of Matalam is now coordinating with provincial social welfare officers to provide support to the grieving family.

Meanwhile, a manhunt is underway to track down the suspects, who fled the scene under the cover of darkness.

In other news, municipal leaders in Catarman officially padlocked a local food stall after a customer's online video exposed significant sanitary issues within a chicken meal. Following the viral report, health inspectors conducted a surprise walkthrough and discovered an ill-maintained kitchen and poorly handled storage equipment. Meat control officials documented severe breaches of national food safety protocols, noting that the establishment failed to meet basic cleanliness standards. The restaurant is prohibited from operating until management undergoes a thorough re-evaluation and proves that all hygiene hazards have been eliminated.

Still in other news, a 43-year-old resident was found lifeless in a grassy area of Barangay Balelleng on Sunday, ending a two-day search for the missing individual. A 26-year-old man, who was the last person seen with the victim, voluntarily turned himself in to police and took responsibility for the fatal encounter. During questioning, the suspect alleged that his actions were motivated by a history of repeated personal violations he endured from the deceased. Local authorities have formally charged the suspect with h0micide and have secured the weapon used in the crime as the legal process begins.

Source: KAMI.com.gh