PANTUKAN, Davao de Oro — What should have been one of the proudest milestones in a young man's life shattered into a nightmare when a newly minted college graduate was shot and critically wounded just hours after his commencement ceremony.

The horrifying incident occurred past midday on Thursday, June 25, 2026 right outside the campus gates of Kolehiyo ng Pantukan, leaving the academic community and local residents in deep shock.

According to initial police reports, the victim had just walked across the stage to receive his diploma earlier that morning. Family, friends, and faculty had gathered to celebrate the graduation rites, filling the air with a sense of triumph and hope for the future.

However, shortly after noon, as graduates and their families began filtering out of the school grounds to attend celebratory lunches, gunshots rang out along the perimeter of the campus. Witness accounts indicate that a lone gunman approached the graduate outside the school gates and fired multiple times at close range before quickly fleeing the scene.

Amidst screams of terror from fleeing students and onlookers, bystanders rushed to the victim's aid. He was immediately transported to a nearby hospital where he remains in critical condition under close medical supervision.

The sudden violence has left Kolehiyo ng Pantukan reeling. The local government unit (LGU) and school administration quickly issued statements condemning the attack and expressing deep sorrow that a day intended for celebration was marred by bloodshed.

"We are devastated that one of our own was targeted on a day meant to honor his hard work and future potential," said a student representative. "This violence has shaken all of us to the core."

In the wake of the shooting, municipal authorities have deployed an increased police presence around the school vicinity to restore a sense of safety and calm for the remaining students and faculty.

The Pantukan Municipal Police Station has launched a hot pursuit operation to identify and apprehend the shooter. Investigators are currently reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from establishments near the campus gates and interviewing eyewitnesses who were present during the post-graduation rush.

At this time, authorities have not established a clear motive behind the shooting and are looking into all possible angles, including personal grudges or localized disputes. The victim's family has made an urgent plea to the public for any information that could lead to the swift arrest of the perpetrator.