COTABATO — Police killed one of the suspects in the New Year’s Eve grenade attack in Matalam, Cotabato during a hot pursuit operation, authorities confirmed Friday.

The Cotabato Police Provincial Office (CPPO) identified the suspect as Hammad “Canunay” Ansa, 40, a resident of Barangay Kilada, Matalam. He was one of two motorcycle-riding men who hurled a grenade at a crowd gathered in Barangay Dalapitan shortly after midnight on January 1, injuring at least 22 people, including 10 minors.

According to CPPO spokesperson Police Lt. James Warren Caang, Ansa resisted arrest and opened fire at pursuing officers in Barangay Kilada. “The suspect resisted arrest and drew his short firearm and sporadically shot the arresting PNP personnel, prompting the police to return fire,” the Matalam Police said in a statement.

Police recovered a .45 caliber pistol, fired cartridge cases from both a .45 pistol and an M16 rifle, and later found a sachet of suspected shabu worth around ₱1,360 along with improvised glass tubes during a hospital search. Ansa was rushed to Babol General Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Investigators said the grenade attack occurred while residents were watching motorcycles revving their engines to celebrate the New Year. The explosive was thrown into the crowd, causing chaos and multiple injuries.

Authorities are continuing follow-up operations to track down the second suspect, believed to be the motorcycle driver. Police are also probing the motive behind the attack, which has alarmed local communities.

The CPPO assured residents that security measures are being tightened in Matalam and nearby towns. “We are conducting deeper investigation on the motive behind the incident and follow-operations against the other suspect,” Caang said.

The grenade blast has drawn condemnation from local officials, who urged vigilance and cooperation with law enforcement to prevent similar attacks.

Violence Has Consequences, and So Must the Response

A grenade thrown into a crowd is not a lapse in judgment. It is a decision to inflict harm without distinction. Children were among the injured. That fact alone should end any temptation to soften language or blur accountability.

The killing of a suspect during a police pursuit will inevitably invite debate. That debate is healthy in a democracy. But it must not distract from the larger truth. This was an act of terror against civilians. It was deliberate, reckless, and lethal in intent. Society cannot treat such violence as just another crime statistic.

Accountability begins with perpetrators, but it cannot stop there. Attacks like this raise questions about access to weapons, the circulation of explosives, and the conditions that allow armed individuals to move freely in public spaces. Each unanswered question becomes an invitation for repetition.

Law enforcement faces a difficult balance. Act decisively, and risk scrutiny. Hesitate, and risk lives. In this case, officers were responding to an armed suspect who chose to fire back. The responsibility for that outcome rests first with the person who resisted arrest with a gun in hand.

Public safety demands more than arrests after the fact. It demands prevention that is visible, consistent, and sustained. Communities should not have to accept that celebrations come with an expectation of bloodshed. That mindset normalizes violence and lowers the bar for outrage.

Justice is not only about what happens to suspects. It is about what is done to protect the innocent who never chose to be part of the story. Accountability must be firm, unapologetic, and unwavering. Anything less risks signaling that violence carries noise and headlines, but not lasting consequence.

Image from Cotabato Police Provincial office