Bank employee shot while collecting loans in Maguindanao Norte

A bank employee was shot during a loan collection operation in Maguindanao del Norte on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The incident took place in Barangay Macabiso, Sultan Mastura, where the victim, Jeffry Imbang Jalbuna, 40, was injured by gunfire while working for the Cooperative Bank of Cotabato. Jalbuna, who resides in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat province, was targeted by a gunman who rode pillion on a motorcycle alongside an accomplice. The shooting occurred around 1:37 p.m., according to initial reports from the Sultan Mastura Municipal Police Station (MPS). Jalbuna and other bank staff were present at the scene as they collected payments from borrowers. Two unidentified individuals approached on a motorbike, with the person seated behind the driver firing shots at Jalbuna. The assailants then fled the area on the same vehicle before police could apprehend them. Jalbuna suffered two gunshot wounds, on the right side of his hip and the left arm, and was taken to Sanitarium Hospital in Sultan Kudarat for treatment. Medical personnel confirmed that he remained in stable condition following the attack. The exact motive behind the shooting remains under investigation. The incident unfolded despite the enforcement of an election gun ban across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which includes Maguindanao del Norte. The ban, active ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections, prohibits the possession and use of firearms in the region. Earlier this week, authorities had arrested 13 individuals suspected of violating the ban. Capt. Steffi Salanguit, spokesperson for the BARMM Police Regional Office, confirmed the identity of the victim and noted that the case is being investigated by local police. She stated that the suspects have yet to be identified, though their escape on foot or by motorbike suggests they may have fled the area quickly. Local law enforcement officials have begun reviewing footage from nearby surveillance cameras and interviewing witnesses to determine whether the attackers were known to the community or had prior ties to criminal activity. The police station in Sultan Mastura is also coordinating with regional authorities to track down the suspects. Jalbuna’s family members expressed concern over the incident, emphasizing the danger faced by workers in the financial sector. They described the attack as a shocking violation of public safety, especially given the current restrictions on firearm use. Local residents have also raised questions about the effectiveness of the election gun ban in preventing such incidents. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and are urging anyone with information about the suspects to come forward. The case highlights the challenges of maintaining security in areas where legal restrictions on weapons intersect with criminal behavior. As investigations progress, further details about the identities of the perpetrators and the circumstances surrounding the shooting are expected to emerge.