Two men who worked as duck caretakers were shot dead at an alleged former rebel hideout in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in what police believe may have been a case of mistaken identity.

Authorities said the victims, both 31 years old and residents of Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat, were found dead at a rice field near the area where they had been tending ducks in Barangay Matagabong.

According to the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), the victims sustained gunshot wounds in the head.

Police recovered an empty shell from a caliber 5.56mm firearm at the crime scene.

Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the killing.

However, investigators believe the victims may have been killed in a case of mistaken identity, after the suspects may have mistook them for government informants.

It was learned that the area was once believed to have been a hideout of the Dawlah Islamiyah rebel group.

Authorities are verifying this information.