In a tragic incident, Jerry Beltran Dofredo, a 46-year-old candidate for town council in Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte, was fatally ambushed on January 18, 2025. The attack occurred around 5 p.m. near the borders of Barangays Katinggawan and San Isidro in Midsayap, North Cotabato. Dofredo, who was campaigning for reelection under the Muslim-Christian Democrats Party, was shot multiple times by one of two assailants on motorcycles while riding his own motorcycle back from Midsayap town proper. He suffered six gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Dofredo, previously a village chair of Barangay P. Labio and a former town councilor, was described by his family as having no known enemies. The Midsayap police, led by Lt. Col. Realan Mamon, are actively pursuing two persons of interest and are investigating various potential motives behind the killing.
