RAJAH BUAYAN, Maguindanao del Sur — Tension is rising anew in the province’s most volatile corridor after a police patrol vehicle was targeted in a roadside bombing on Wednesday morning, marking the second violent incident in recent days following a deadly ambush in the nearby municipality of Mamasapano.
The explosion occurred at around 8:00 a.m. in Barangay Sapakan, targeting a patrol car from the Rajah Buayan Municipal Police Station. Authorities said the police team had just passed through the area when an improvised explosive device (IED) suddenly detonated.
According to Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region spokesperson Capt. Steffi Salanguit, the officers were responding to an earlier bombing incident at the residence of the town’s municipal administrator in Barangay Poblacion when the attack took place.
Initial reports indicated that no police personnel were injured in the roadside blast, although the patrol vehicle sustained damage from shrapnel. Authorities also recovered components believed to be part of an IED at the scene.
Moments after the explosion, unidentified armed suspects reportedly opened fire on the responding officers, suggesting a coordinated ambush. Despite the attack, the police managed to avoid casualties and secure the area.
The incident came just days after a deadly ambush in Mamasapano on March 28, which left five police officers dead and three others injured. That attack was reportedly attributed to members of the Dawlah Islamiyah, a local extremist group operating in parts of Mindanao.
The back-to-back incidents have raised alarm among both security forces and residents, particularly as they occurred within the so-called “SPMS Box” — an area covering Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi Ampatuan), Mamasapano, and Shariff Saydona Mustapha — long considered one of the most hostile and conflict-prone corridors in Maguindanao.
Security officials fear that the resurgence of such attacks could signal renewed activity by armed groups in the region, threatening recent gains in peace and stability.
Police units in the area have been placed on heightened alert status as clearing and pursuit operations continue to identify and apprehend those responsible. Bomb disposal teams and investigators are also conducting post-blast examinations to determine the type and origin of the explosives used.
Authorities have called on the public to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activities, as efforts intensify to prevent further attacks and restore security in the affected communities.