In its final month of monitoring incidents of state-related violence for 2025, the Sandatahang Dahas recorded 38 individuals killed and 27 injured. Building on the trend from the previous month, deaths from anti-insurgency operations constituted more than half of the total number, with 13 alleged insurgents and 6 state agents killed. Four other state agents died in incidents unrelated to anti-insurgency, while 14 civilians were also killed in December.
Of the 38 who died, two were state agents who were killed by unidentified assailants, two by civilians, and six by alleged insurgents. On the other hand, 28 individuals (14 civilians, 13 alleged insurgents, and one state agent) were killed by state agents in December.
On Dec. 1, 43-year-old electrician Reymon Allawan alias “Kidok” was shot dead in broad daylight in Samal Island, Davao del Norte. He was outside his shop when a helmeted man on a motorcycle drove by and shot him in the head. Last Jan. 16, Samal Island PNP Chief Lt. Col. Hamlet Lerios stated that the assailant was identified to be an active police officer. It is speculated that a “love triangle” may have been the motive for the killing.
On Dec. 3, 22-year-old Julito Baling Jr. alias “Jongke” was gunned down by a police officer in Banisilan, Cotabato after he had reportedly threatened bypassers in the area with a knife. The incident was filmed and posted on social media by the victim’s relatives, stating that the police shot Baling while defenseless. The Chief of the Banisilan Municipal Police Station, PMaj. Arvin John Cambang, has reiterated that the police shot Baling in self-defense as Baling was threatening to strike first; however, he has also confirmed that the victim’s family are planning to file a case against the police officer.
On Dec. 20, 52-year-old Ronald Bagalangit with the aliases of “Inday” and “Boboy” died at a hospital in General Santos City. He was initially arrested as one of the suspects in the murder of college student Miyuki Kim on Dec, 8. However, while in police custody, Bagalangit had difficulty breathing. This prompted him to be rushed to a local hospital, where he soon died from a blood clot. His live-in partner, alias “Nenet,” stated that when she was last with Bagalangit at the hospital, he had bruises on his head and body, and was seemingly blind. Bagalangit’s family members suspect that he was beaten while in police custody.
A bloody operation in Kabacan, Cotabato resulted in the deaths of five individuals on December 16. In a joint operation, the PNP, PDEA, and the AFP were serving a warrant for murder and illegal drugs against the suspects in their “hideout” when they fired at them, triggering a shootout. State agents identified the slain suspects as Ibrahim Macalnas, reportedly an MILF commander with the alias “Commander Bigkog,” his brother Datukan Macalnas, Ismael Luncayao, an alias “Puling,” and an unnamed male individual. Two companions were arrested while two others escaped during the shootout.
Two policemen were killed by civilians in separate incidents. In Candelaria, Quezon, Pat. Ron Jay Chavez was killed by a gun-for-hire group during a law enforcement operation on Dec. 19. He was on routine patrol with the First Quezon Provincial Mobile Force Company when the armed suspects opened fire at the police. Two other policemen, M/Sgt. Sonny Caringal and Pat. Kim Kenneth Averia, were injured in the encounter. The suspect, an alias “Mark,” was also killed in a follow-up operation.
Palawan recorded its first case of state violence for the year. On Dec. 22, PSSg. Junery Pagunsan Omagap was stabbed to death in El Nido. He was responding to an incident wherein eight suspects were beating up a local tour guide. While attempting to run after one of the suspects, another one stabbed Omagap in the stomach.
Furthermore, Sandatahang Dahas recorded two killings of state agents by unidentified assailants in December.
On Dec. 21, PCMS Mark Hermoso was shot while attending a wake in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte. The director of the Iligan City Police Office, Col. Jerry Tambis, has stated that “there is a great possibility that the killing of Hermoso was work-related,” since he was formerly involved in the Police Regional Operations Unit.
Just minutes before the new year, PSSg. Juneray Estallo Gamones was ambushed and shot by motorcycle-riding gunmen. When the police responded to the incident, they found him dead, his service firearm missing. A motive for the killing is still being established as the investigation is ongoing.
This December, Sandatahang Dahas also recorded incidents of state agents assaulting each other, an intermittent occurrence all throughout 2025. One state agent was killed while two were injured in such incidents this month.
Inside the 50th Infantry Battalion Camp in Lacub, Abra, PFC Archie Calawit was shot dead by a fellow soldier on Christmas day. The suspect was reportedly cleaning his service firearm when it accidentally discharged, hitting Calawit, who was about 15 meters away. The suspect has since surrendered to the authorities, where he will face a homicide charge.
Anti-insurgency operations launched by state agents took lives from both sides in December, with the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions being consistent hotspots.
Two alleged leaders of the Dawlah Islamiyah were killed by state agents this month. On December 7, Ustadz Mohammad Usman Sulaiman was gunned down by the 601st Infantry Brigade in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur. Sulaiman was reportedly a top bomb maker for the group, reportedly responsible for more than 12 bombings across Central Mindanao since 2015. The Western Mindanao Command chief, Maj. Gen. Donald Gumiran, stated that Sulaiman was wanted for 37 cases prior to his death.
On Dec. 14, Norodin Andig alias “Kwag-kwag” was killed by a joint police and army operation in Datu Abdullah Sangki, also in Maguindanao del Sur. The state agents were serving an arrest warrant for murder, frustrated murder, and arson against Andig when he reportedly fired at them, causing them to retaliate. He had allegedly been responsible for the murder of several individuals in Maguindanao del Sur this year.
Ten alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed this month. On Dec. 2, Ruben Tingal alias “Ka Marcos” was killed by the 94th Infantry Battalion in Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan, Negros Occidental. He was reportedly a squad leader of the Central Negros 2 Command, and was involved in the killings of civilians in his area. Tingal’s younger brother, Crispin Tingal Jr., was also killed in an encounter with the Army in the same barangay two years prior.
On Dec. 19, two unidentified male NPA members were killed by the 20th Infantry Brigade in Las Navas, Northern Samar. Three high-powered weapons were recovered by the military. This incident adds up to 24 alleged NPA members killed in Northern Samar in 2025, while 13 others were killed elsewhere in the Eastern Visayas region, all during encounters with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
On Dec. 23, five alleged NPA members, including three leaders, were killed by a joint army and police operation in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur. Christopher Endrinal alias “Bal,” Ramil Recto alias “Paeng,” and Danilo Budino alias “Ter” or “Dado” were reportedly top leaders of the Bicol Regional Party Committee. The others slain were identified as Limuel Casiano Pacon alias “Cris,” and an alias “Pepe.”
Such an intensive operation was launched by state agents after two soldiers, a lieutenant and a sergeant, were killed by landmines detonated by the NPA, also in Camarines Sur, on December 19. Three other sergeants were injured during the incident.
Aside from this incident, four other state agents were reported killed by the NPA in December. On Dec. 3, two sergeants under the 81st Military Intelligence Company were killed by alleged NPA members in San Jose de Buan, Samar. They were doing intelligence operations when they engaged members of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee. A 10-year-old boy was also wounded in the incident, but Sandatahang Dahas is not recording his case as clear reports on which side wounded him have yet to be released.
While Sandatahang Dahas has recorded the NPA killing or wounding members of the AFP in the past months, they claimed their first policeman victim on Dec. 7. PSMS Rommel Aguilar, along with members of the 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company, engaged in an encounter with six armed individuals in Brgy. Menchaca, Calatrava. The police soon dispersed due to “hostile fire and difficult terrain,” but with Aguilar missing. His body was found two hours later. The NPA claimed responsibility for his death along with the death of a civilian named Armando Ugdiman, whom they suspected was a military asset.
Of the 38 individuals killed, 33 were male while the sex of five individuals was unreported. Law enforcement operations remain the top circumstance in state-related killings, consistent with every month in Sandatahang Dahas’s monitoring for 2025. In December, 33 died due to such circumstances. Two state agents died in attacks outside of their official duties, while Bagalangit’s case is classified as “death in police custody.” Meanwhile, the cases of PFC Calawit and Allawan do not fall under any of the previously mentioned circumstances.
Sandatahang Dahas logged 27 cases of assaults that led to injuries in December. As with the previous months, most of the victims are state agents. Conversely, civilians were the biggest perpetrators this month, harming 13 state agents. This is followed by ten state agents who harmed seven civilians, one alleged insurgent, and two fellow state agents. Meanwhile, alleged insurgents harmed four state agents in December.
Prevalence of violence against women
Civilians make up around 25% (7 out of 27) of the reported injuries due to state-related violence for December. On Dec. 4, 27-year-old alias “Anna” was raped by a police officer at a motel in Sampaloc, Manila. The victim suspects that her drink was spiked while at a bar in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. CCTV footage showed the victim, unconscious and slung over the policeman’s shoulder, as he carried her into a motel in Sampaloc with the help of a staff member. When the woman woke up, she immediately sought help from the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption. Despite a medico-legal examination confirming that she was raped, the suspect’s lawyer maintains that the two had a “consensual” “mutual understanding.” The policeman had been a childhood friend of the victim and her husband.
This case was only made public last Jan. 11. Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. had since ordered the relief of the policeman involved. As of writing, an investigation is ongoing.
Based on Sandatahang Dahas monitoring, state agents have committed acts of sexual violence against 15 individuals in 2025, nine against civilians and six against fellow state agents. Of the nine civilian victims, six were girls aged 18 or younger.
On Dec. 22, a police officer illegally fired his gun and beat up a civilian at a Christmas party in Estancia, Iloilo. The Senior Master Sergeant was reportedly drunk. He is facing charges for illegally discharging his firearm and committing slight physical injuries. While he surrendered, he was soon released from jail after posting bail on December 26.
On the same day, a drug operation in Brgy. 120, Caloocan City left both the arresting officer and the suspect injured after they grappled over the suspect’s firearm. PCpl. Robinson Oya and other personnel from Sub-Station 2 arrived at the scene after learning of an illegal drug transaction taking place. Oya spotted alias “Joboy” receiving a sachet of alleged shabu, prompting him to approach. Detecting Oya’s presence, Joboy fired his gun, but missed. The two fought over Joboy’s gun, which fired three times, injuring them both. Meanwhile, the individual transacting with Joboy escaped during the commotion.
Besides Oya, 18 other state agents were injured in December. In Bucay, Abra, a soldier was wounded in a clash between the 77th Infantry Battalion and the NPA on Dec. 19. There were no reported casualties on the side of the NPA. Following this, military units have reportedly tightened their security measures across the province of Abra.
Sandatahang Dahas recorded several instances of state agents being attacked in December, two by civilians and two by other state agents. All incidents happened outside of the state agents’ official law enforcing duties.
On Dec. 14, Roliver Anang, a Staff Sergeant of the Philippine Air Force, was critically injured by police officer Elshiemer Kamlian in Zamboanga City, allegedly due to a love triangle. Anang was reportedly on the way to work when he saw his wife’s vehicle parked at an apartment complex in the city. His wife, together with Kamlian, arrived as Anang stopped to investigate. Upon seeing him, Kamlian reportedly went inside the apartment to get his firearm. He shot Anang in the chest before driving away on a motorcycle. The Zamboanga City Police have filed criminal charges against the suspect, who has since surrendered.
On Dec. 16, a police colonel assaulted a patrolman inside the Highway Patrol Group (HPG)’s parking lot in Quezon City during their Christmas party. While the patrolman was parking his vehicle, the colonel allegedly pointed a gun at him and started kicking him. The suspect also hit the victim on the head and upper lip using his gun. According to HPG Director PBGen. Hansel Marantan, the suspect cited personal grievances as his motive. However, the victim stated that he had never talked with the suspect prior to the incident. Marantan relieved the colonel from his post and ordered an investigation.
Sandatahang Dahas recorded one injury by state forces against an alleged NPA member this month. On Dec. 2, 47-year-old Mangyan Iraya farmer Dolores Mariano Solangon was allegedly abducted and tortured by the AFP’s 76th Infantry Battalion in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro. According to her statement, she was tied to a tree for hours, forcibly gagged, and made to dig her own grave.
Among the 27 individuals injured in December, 17 are male, two are female, while eight individuals’ sex was unreported. The majority of the incidents (21) occurred during law enforcement operations. Meanwhile, four state agents were attacked in incidents outside of their official duties. The remaining two incidents, that of the rape of “Anna” in Manila and the assault of a civilian in Estancia, Iloilo, do not fall under any of the previously mentioned circumstances.
For this month, the majority of the incidents were concentrated in Luzon, where 14 individuals were killed and 14 were injured. Camarines Sur is the top hotspot with seven killed and three injured, all in incidents related to anti-insurgency. The National Capital Region followed with five injuries. Quezon Province had two killed and two injured, while Abra (one killed and one injured), Masbate (two killed), and Pangasinan (two injured) recorded two incidents each. The following provinces each recorded one incident: Cavite (one killed), Occidental Mindoro (one injured), and Palawan (one killed).
In Visayas, seven were killed while nine were injured. Cebu (five injured) and Negros Occidental (two killed and three injured) share the biggest number of incidents in the island group this month. Northern Samar (three killed) and Samar (two killed) come in next, all in incidents related to anti-insurgency. Lastly, Iloilo recorded one injury in December.
Mindanao had 17 killed and four injured. Cotabato emerged as the top spot, reporting six killed and one injured. Its neighboring province, South Cotabato, had one killed and one injured. The other provinces that recorded two incidents were Bukidnon (two killed), Davao del Sur (one killed and one injured), and Maguindanao del Sur (two killed). Finally, Agusan del Sur (one killed), Davao del Norte (one killed), Lanao del Norte (one killed), Lanao del Sur (one killed), Zamboanga del Sur (one injured), and Zamboanga Sibugay (one killed) each recorded one incident this month.
State-related violence remains widespread in the last month of 2025. Certain regions, such as Eastern Visayas and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, have become consistent hotspots of state-related violence. While Sandatahang Dahas began releasing monthly reports for the first time this year, the Third World Studies Center began tracking state-related violence in 2023. This was in collaboration with the University of Exeter through an earlier project called the Lethal Force Monitor. In its first year of monthly monitoring, Sandatahang Dahas has recorded significant trends: violence from anti-insurgency operations, violence in civil demonstrations, and sexual and domestic violence committed by state agents, among others. In our forthcoming yearly report, these overall trends will be discussed in more detail. In the meantime, Sandatahang Dahas will continue its monthly monitoring in 2026.
[Aidrielle Raymundo is a university research associate at the Third World Studies Center (TWSC), College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines Diliman. She also did the graphics accompanying this report. To learn more about Sandatahang Dahas, visit its website and for the latest updates, follow the Dahas Project in these social media platforms: X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky. Reports for the previous months are available at https://dahas.upd.edu.ph/sd-monthly-reports/.]
