One of the two individuals suspected of carrying out a deadly grenade attack on New Year's Eve in Matalam, North Cotabato, has been killed in an armed encounter with police. Authorities confirmed the shootout occurred on Thursday evening, January 1, 2026, as lawmen pursued the suspects.
Police Operation Neutralizes Suspect
The Cotabato City Police Office (CCPO) reported that the fatal confrontation took place around 8 p.m. in Barangay Kilada, Matalam. Police operatives engaged the fleeing suspect, resulting in his death. The identity of the slain individual has not been released by authorities. Meanwhile, a manhunt is actively ongoing for the second suspect, who remains at large.
Details of the New Year's Eve Attack
The violent incident that prompted the pursuit happened on December 31, 2025. Two men riding a motorcycle threw a grenade into a crowd of people celebrating the New Year along the road in Purok Ipil-Ipil, Barangay Dalapitan, Matalam. The initial casualty count was corrected upward, with twenty-two people wounded, nine of whom are minors.
Link to Anti-Drug Campaign and Official Condemnation
Investigators are looking into a potential connection between the attack and the government's anti-drug campaign. Barangay Kilada, where the shootout occurred, is known to authorities as one of the areas used by drug syndicates operating in North Cotabato.
Police Brigadier General Arnold Ardiente, the regional director of the Soccsksargen (Region 12) police force, issued a strong condemnation of the attack. He labeled the grenade-throwing as a senseless act that showed complete disregard for human life and public safety. Ardiente emphasized that targeting innocent civilians during a celebration is an unacceptable crime that will be met with the full force of the law.
