The Zamboanga Sibugay Police Provincial Office reported the prompt arrest of a suspect following a shooting incident that occurred at around 11:30 AM on January 29, 2026, in Purok Neptune, Barangay Bulawan, Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay, approximately 21 kilometers from the Payao Municipal Police Station.

The incident was immediately reported at 11:45 AM by a concerned citizen through a cellular phone call to the Payao Municipal Police Station. Demonstrating swift police action, the personnel of Payao MPS led by PMAJ MANOLO T ECHEM, OIC promptly proceeded to the area to verify the incident, traveling more or less 21 kilometers despite rough road conditions.

The responding police team arrived at the scene at approximately 12:00 PM, only 15 minutes after the report was received. At around 12:05 PM, the responding personnel conducted a hot pursuit operation, which resulted in the arrest of the suspect in a nearby fishpond area. No firearm was recovered during the arrest.

The victim was immediately transported to Alicia District Hospital for medical treatment but was later declared dead by the attending physician. The arrested suspect was subsequently brought to the Payao Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and the filing of appropriate legal charges.

𝗣𝗖𝗢𝗟 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗘 𝗩 𝗗𝗔𝗦𝗨𝗚𝗢, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 of Zamboanga Sibugay PPO, commended the swift response of the responding personnel, stating:
“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘺.”

The Zamboanga Sibugay Police Provincial Office continues to emphasize the importance of community cooperation and rapid police response in maintaining peace and order across the province.