THE 10TH Infantry Division (10ID) on Saturday debunked viral reports claiming communist New People’s Army (NPA) presence following a shooting incident along the tri-boundary of Tampakan, South Cotabato, and Kiblawan, Davao del Sur.
MAJ Ruben Gadut, spokesperson for the 10th Infantry Division, clarified that the 3 a.m. incident stemmed from a personal dispute involving a love triangle among members of the local Blaan indigenous community, rather than an armed confrontation with insurgents.
According to initial findings from the 39th Infantry Battalion (39IB), an armed suspect went to the area looking for his wife, who had reportedly left him for another man.
Upon failing to locate her, the suspect opened fire on another man who happened to be at the scene.
“It’s not NPAs. It’s actually a personal dispute (love triangle),” Gadut confirmed in a message to TIMES.
He explained that armed men later seen in circulating videos were actually relatives of the shooting victim responding to assist their kin in the immediate aftermath.
In a separate statement, the 39IB addressed social media rumors that triggered security concerns among nearby residents along the provincial border.
The military unit confirmed that troops have already established direct contact and coordinated with the involved parties and local tribal leaders to de-escalate tensions, preserve order, and assist civilian authorities in the ongoing investigation.
