Five men were killed when authorities served arrest and search warrants against them in Lower Paatan, Kacaban, Cotabato early Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

Cotabato Police Provincial Office spokesperson, Lt. James Warren Caang, claimed that the suspects resisted arrest.

The operation was carried out by members of the Provincial Mobile Force Company, Kabacan Municipal Police Station, and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

“Nagkaroon ng implementation ng search warrant at service of warrant of arrest ang ating Kabacan Municipal Police Station kasama ang 1st and 2nd mobile force company, PDEA, PDEU… yun na nga, it resulted to the death of limang katao. Para maklaro po, itong limang namatay is doon sa subject ng warrant of arrest kasi nung i-serve na yung warrant of arrest, nag-resist itong grupo na ito,” Caang said.

Police said the suspects were the subject of arrest warrants for murder.

“Tatlo sa kanila ang identified and dalawa is under identification… ang warrant of arrest is sa kasong murder dahil ito po sila, itong mga namatay, suspects din sa nagyaring shooting incidents sa area,” Caang added.

During the operation, a woman was arrested when the operating team served search warrants for violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165) and Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act (RA 10591).

“Doon naman sa search warrant, apat na subject sa search warrant na may tigdalawang search warrant. Ibig sabihin, walong search warrant in every target may dalawa violations sa Republic Act 9165 and Republic Act 10591. And doon sa subject ng search warrant isa ang ating nahuli,” Caang said.

Authorities are still investigating to determine the circumstances of the operation.