Authorities reported that a security guard was fatally shot inside a bus while two police officers manning a checkpoint were wounded in a shooting incident early 28 December 2024.

Initial investigations showed that the suspect — off-duty police officer Reynaldo Bigno Jr., assigned at Police Station 7 in General Santos City — allegedly shot and killed a fellow passenger on a bus traveling from General Santos City to Davao City.

According to the Makilala Municipal Police Station, Bigno and his wife had been arguing inside the bus before the shooting. The victim, identified as a security guard who was also on his way to Davao City, was reportedly about to pay his fare when Bigno shot him in the head.

“Based on our information, there was chaos inside the bus between the suspect and his partner... we do not know what was going inside the head of the police officer that led to the incident,” said Chief Master Sergeant Ritche Gesulga, spokesperson for the Makilala Municipal Police Station.

A barangay official in Batasan said the suspect believed the victim was reaching for a gun, but witnesses claimed the victim was simply paying for his fare.

“The conductor said the scenario was the suspect thought the victim, who was traveling to work in Davao, was pulling out a gun, when he was actually getting payment for his ticket. The suspect shot him from behind, hitting him on the nape, with the bullet emerging from the forehead,” said Barangay Batasan councilman Abe Desaca.

After the shooting, Bigno ordered the bus driver to continue driving. When the bus reached a checkpoint in Barangay New Opon, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, the driver stopped to seek help from police officers.

Angered by the driver’s decision to stop, Bigno shot and wounded two police officers manning the checkpoint. The officers, assigned to the 1104th Regional Mobile Force Battalion-Davao, were rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Bigno attempted to flee but was apprehended by other police officers.

In response to the incident, the General Santos City Police Office announced that it would be stepping up its monitoring of personnel.