By Edwin Fernandez

AMBUSH VICTIM. Engr. Romeo Livelo, an employee of the MSSD-BARMM, is found lifeless at a roadside in Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, on Tuesday (Sept. 16, 2025). Livelo, who was still wearing his office ID, was on his way home when he was ambushed. (Photo courtesy of Maguindanao del Norte PNP)

COTABATO CITY – Police in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, have launched a manhunt for two men believed to be behind the killing of an engineer from the Bangsamoro region’s social services office on Tuesday night.

Engr. Romeo “Ryan” Livelo, an employee of the Ministry of Social Services and Development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MSSD-BARMM), was killed on the spot, according to the Bangsamoro police.

Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), said the victim was driving his motorcycle on his way home to Upi, Maguindanao del Norte, when he was ambushed along the highway in Sitio Tenorio, Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, at around 6:30 p.m.

“He sustained fatal gunshot wounds in the head and body,” a police report from Datu Odin Sinsuat said.

The motive and identities of the attackers remain unknown, but police are pursuing several persons of interest.

Livelo’s co-workers condemned the attack and called on police to bring the perpetrators to justice. (PNA)