Two armed men were killed during an encounter at a checkpoint in Barangay Old Maganoy, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

The military said the troops at the Maganoy detachment were alarmed after a minivan hesitated to go through the checkpoint.

Later, armed men in the minivan allegedly fired shots as they fled the area, prompting the soldiers to return fire.

The exchange of fire resulted in the death of two men in the van.

“Nagkaroon ng engkwentro at nakita ng ating kasundaluhan sa loob ng sasakyan ng mga suspek ang isang M16 Rifle at isang .45 Caliber Pistol na ginamit nila sa pagpaputok sa mga nakadestino sa checkpoint,” 33rd Infantry Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Udgie Villan, said.

Brigadier General Edgar Catu, commander of the 601st Brigade ordered the troops to beef up checkpoint operations following the incident.

“Ang agarang pagtugon ng ating tropa ay patunay ng ating patuloy na dedikasyon sa pagpapanatili ng kapayapaan at kaayusan sa rehiyon, lalong-lalo na at higit isang buwan na lang ay eleksyon na,” Catu said.

6th Infantry Division (6ID) commander, Major General Donald Gumiran, also emphasized the role of the military in the implementation of checkpoints to keep the region safe and to maintain peace and order.

"Patuloy naming pinaiigting ang operasyon ng kasundaluhan katuwang ang pulisya at iba pang security forces upang mapanatili ang seguridad at tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng bawat mamamayan sa buong Central at South Central Mindanao,” Gumiran said.

“Sa pamamagitan ng masinsinang pagpapatrolya at mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng mga checkpoint, sisiguraduhin nating mapipigilan ang anumang banta sa kapayapaan at maiiwasan ang anumang insidente na maaaring magdulot ng pangamba sa ating mga komunidad," he added.