A newlywed man was shot and killed while eating with his wife inside a burger outlet in Lala, Lanao del Norte, on Monday evening in an attack that police are investigating as a possible clan feud, or rido.
The victim, identified by authorities only by the alias “Abdul,” was dining with his wife at a Minute Burger outlet along the national highway in Barangay Maranding at about 6 p.m. when an armed man entered the establishment and shot him in the head at close range, according to police and witness accounts.
The victim, believed to be in his late 20s, died at the scene from his injuries.
Witnesses said the gunman fled on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice. Police immediately launched a pursuit operation and set up checkpoints in nearby areas, but no arrests had been reported as of Tuesday.
The victim’s wife witnessed the shooting and was left in shock, according to residents. The couple had recently been married.
Investigators said they are pursuing several leads, including the possibility that the killing was linked to rido, a longstanding clan feud that remains a recurring cause of violence in parts of Mindanao.
Police are reviewing closed-circuit television footage from nearby establishments, interviewing witnesses and conducting forensic examinations to identify the suspects and determine whether the attack was premeditated.
Authorities are also investigating whether the victim had received previous threats or had been involved in any disputes that could have been connected to the shooting.
Police appealed to the public for information that could help identify and locate the suspects. They said efforts are continuing to arrest those responsible and file the appropriate charges.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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