SHARIFF AGUAK, MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR — A daring grenade attack late Thursday night injured four civilians in Sitio Malinis, Barangay Mother Poblacion, in yet another chilling reminder of the region’s recurring cycle of senseless violence.
The explosion, believed to have been caused by a grenade projectile fired from a distance, occurred at around 9:45 p.m. on December 4, tearing through the quiet residential area and leaving residents in panic. The blast wounded four innocent civilians identified as:
• Ryan Pendatun Obpon, 51
• Abdulazis S. Saludin, 20
• Nasrullah Dukay Unayan, 27
• Jonalyn A. Mamay, 24
All four sustained shrapnel wounds as fragments ripped through the site, even damaging a Toyota Avanza (plate number DAS 6695) owned by Jeffrey Sulaik, which had been parked near the impact zone.
Emergency responders and police rushed the victims to medical facilities—three to the Bangsamoro Regional Hospital and one to a nearby private clinic—for immediate treatment.
Shariff Aguak Mayor Akmad Baganian Ampatuan condemned the attack, confirming that barangay officials and police are now working closely to identify the perpetrators. The Shariff Aguak Municipal Police Station has coordinated with the Provincial Explosives and Canine Unit (PECU) and Provincial Forensic Unit (PFU/SOCO) to thoroughly process the crime scene, while the AFP and nearby police stations assist in a hot pursuit operation.
Authorities are still determining the motive and exact type of explosive used.
Pattern of Violence That Refuses to End
The brazen attack adds to a disturbing pattern of violence that continues to haunt Maguindanao del Sur and nearby areas—violence that seems to resurface even during periods of relative calm, striking without warning and victimizing civilians who have long yearned for stability.
Despite peace efforts, inter-family conflict, political rivalries, and other unresolved hostilities continue to manifest through shootings, bombings, and ambushes. Thursday night’s grenade explosion is yet another painful example of how communities remain trapped in fear as lawless elements carry out attacks with impunity.
Residents in Sitio Malinis say they are exhausted—exhausted by the uncertainty, the trauma, and the constant threat of violence that disrupts lives and futures. For many here, the question now resurfaces: When will the bloodshed finally end?
As the investigation progresses, local leaders urge calm, cooperation, and vigilance, while reiterating their call for justice—justice not only for the four wounded residents, but for all communities repeatedly caught in the crossfire of violence that should have no place in a region striving for lasting peace.