Businessman killed in Marawi shooting; 2 suspects arrested

Police link fatal attack to a longstanding land dispute as investigation continues into discovery of two other bodies in Maguindanao del Norte

ZAMBOANGA CITY (November 6) — A land dispute turned deadly in Marawi City on Tuesday, leaving a local businessman dead and two suspected gunmen in police custody, as authorities separately investigated the discovery of two unidentified bodies bearing signs of violent deaths in Maguindanao del Norte.

Daud Ayo Ali was shot dead inside his black Toyota Hilux in Barangay Gadongan after a heated confrontation reportedly involving a longstanding property disagreement between local businessmen.

Ali sustained multiple gunshot wounds when armed men opened fire on his vehicle as he attempted to drive away. His companion, identified by authorities as Ali Ansary, escaped unharmed.

Police operatives under the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) immediately launched a hot-pursuit operation, resulting in the arrest of two suspects identified as Yahya Tomawis, the alleged primary gunman, and Jalil Hadji Malic, his alleged accomplice.

Investigators said the shooting stemmed from a longstanding land dispute. Video footage of the incident circulated on social media and is reportedly being used as part of the investigation.

The arrests mark an early breakthrough in the Marawi killing, although the suspects’ alleged participation and the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain subject to judicial proceedings.

Two bodies found along highway

Hours after the Marawi shooting, another violent incident surfaced in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, where passersby discovered the bodies of two unidentified men along the highway in Barangay Taveran.

Police responding to the discovery found both victims with fatal gunshot wounds and thick wire tied around their necks.

Investigators suspect the men may have been tortured and killed elsewhere before their bodies were abandoned along the roadside, possibly to conceal the crime and delay identification.

However, authorities have yet to establish the victims’ identities, the motive behind the killings, or the persons responsible.

The Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station has begun efforts to identify the victims and appealed to residents with missing relatives to coordinate with authorities.

Scene-of-the-crime operatives are examining forensic evidence to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Separate investigations underway

While police have arrested two suspects in the Marawi shooting, the double-body discovery in Datu Odin Sinsuat remains unresolved.

PRO-BAR said legal proceedings against the Marawi suspects are underway and that coordinated operations continue to identify those behind the killings in Maguindanao del Norte.

The two incidents highlight separate challenges for law enforcement: preventing disputes from escalating into deadly violence and ensuring that victims of suspected extrajudicial killings are identified and those responsible are brought before the courts.

Authorities have yet to establish any connection between the Marawi shooting and the discovery of the two bodies.