ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Police Regional Office for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has adopted an analytical investigation involving seven recorded shooting incidents whose victims were elected government officials in the region which killed four and injured two politicians since January 2023.

PRO-BAR director P/Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon on Sunday disclosed that police in the region will use analytical approaches in the conduct of the investigation to identify the perpetrators and investigate the motives behind the shootings.

“We have stepped up our intelligence-driven and operational efforts to prevent threat-initiated attacks, harassments, insurgency, and other violent activities in the region,” Guyguyon said.

He added that of the seven different reported incidents since the start of 2023, two were deemed “cleared” as perpetrators had already been identified and the cases were conveyed to the provincial prosecutor’s office for further investigation.

These incidents involved both the shootings of Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. and barangay captain Abubacar of Parang, Maguindanao.

The shooting incident on 25 February 2023, in Barangay Guiday Biruar in Parang which injured a barangay chairman was settled amicably by the parties involved.

Meanwhile, the remaining four cases, which occurred in Cotabato City on 30 January, Lanao del Sur on 14 March and Maguindanao on 13 and 14 March have remained under further investigation.

Guyguyon said that authorities have been conducting pursuit operations against the suspects while local police stations have also been directed to expedite the investigation and identification of the suspects.

He also condemned the unlawful acts and reiterated the importance of the 3Cs: Coordination, Collaboration and Communication, in preserving safety and security in the region.

“We need to involve the community, as they serve as the eyes and ears of crime prevention, investigation and crime solution,” Guyguyon said.