Grenade attack jolts Army convoy in Maguindanao del Sur

COTABATO CITY – In a show of defiance against an existing gun ban in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), two suspects lobbed a grenade at a military convoy at the welcome rotunda of Barangay Poblacion in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur Saturday morning. As shown on a video shared by the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the BARMM, two KM45 trucks of the Army passed by the area when two men on a motorcycle cut through the convoy and dropped the explosive on the road before speeding away toward Shariff Saydona Mustapha town. The second Army truck suddenly swerved to the left to avoid the impending explosion, but two soldiers on board suffered shrapnel wounds. Article continues after this advertisement Three civilians in the vicinity were also wounded. In a statement, Maj. Gen. Jose Vladimir Cagara, 6ID commander, condemned the attack. “This senseless act of violence resulted in the wounding of two soldiers and three civilians, further demonstrating the complete disregard of the perpetrators for human life and public safety,” Cagara said. Shariff Aguak Mayor Akmad Ampatuan said the police, firefighters and personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office immediately responded to the scene and rushed the injured to the Bangsamoro Regional Hospital and Medical Center in nearby Datu Hoffer Ampatuan town. According to a police report, one soldier suffered a shrapnel wound on the left leg while the other sustained a shrapnel injury to the left middle finger. Article continues after this advertisement The wounded soldiers belong to the Army’s 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion. Police recovered a grenade safety lever from the scene and secured the blast site for investigation. Article continues after this advertisement Authorities have launched a manhunt for the two suspects aboard a black motorcycle, who were reportedly wearing black and green shirts and denim pants. The grenade attack came on the third day of the implementation of the gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections in relation to the first parliamentary elections in the BARMM on Sept. 14. Campaigning is set to start on July 30. The attack has called to mind earlier concerns raised by non-government groups about the security situation in the region in the run-up to the historic political exercise. Lt. Col. Ronald Suscano, speaking for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID), told the Inquirer that the grenade attack was “an isolated incident.” “Following the grenade attack in Shariff Aguak, the Army has increased its visibility along the national highway and areas that are considered to be hot spots in the coming polls,” Suscano said. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack which occurred in an area nearest the traditional stronghold of the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Last July 5, the Army scored a major victory against a faction of the BIFF after its leader was slain in a military operation in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte. (with a report from Amiel M. Cagayan)/gsg