SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao del Norte – A military detachment in Maguindanao del Norte came under attack Saturday evening after an unidentified suspect hurled an explosive device into the compound of a military command post, marking the second attack against Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) since the implementation of the Total Gun Ban for the upcoming first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections.
The latest incident occurred at around 7:37 to 7:50 p.m. on July 18 at the Charlie Headquarters Command Post of Charlie Company, 7th Infantry Battalion, 6th Infantry Division, located in Barangay Macaguiling, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte.
According to initial police and military reports, a still unidentified suspect was captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV) throwing an explosive device into the military compound. Moments later, the device exploded near the soldiers’ duty post, sending shockwaves through the surrounding area.
Despite the blast, no soldiers or civilians were killed or injured, authorities confirmed.
Responding personnel from the Sultan Kudarat Municipal Police Station said they received information about the explosion at approximately 7:46 p.m. and immediately proceeded to the scene.
Initial findings indicate that the explosive was believed to be an improvised explosive device (IED). The blast left visible impact marks on the ground and nearby structures within the military installation.
Authorities immediately requested assistance from the Regional Explosives and Canine Unit (RECU) and the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) to conduct a thorough crime scene examination and gather forensic evidence.
Following the attack, troops of the 6th Infantry Division swiftly tightened security within the military camp while all military units and security checkpoints in the area were placed on heightened alert to prevent possible follow-up attacks.
Investigators are now reviewing CCTV footage and pursuing all available leads to identify the perpetrators and determine the motive behind the attack.
Second Attack Since BARMM Total Gun Ban
The explosion is the second recorded attack against government security forces in BARMM since authorities enforced the Total Gun Ban as part of heightened security measures ahead of the historic Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections.
The first incident occurred only a day earlier in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, where a military convoy was reportedly targeted in a separate grenade attack. While details of that incident remain under investigation, the two successive attacks have heightened security concerns in the region as election preparations continue.
The back-to-back attacks underscore the continuing security challenges faced by law enforcement and military forces despite intensified checkpoint operations and strict enforcement of the election gun ban aimed at preventing violence and maintaining peace during the electoral period.
Authorities have yet to identify any group responsible for either attack, and investigators have not released information indicating whether the two incidents are connected.
Military and police officials continue to appeal to the public to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious individuals or activities that may threaten public safety as security forces intensify monitoring across the Bangsamoro region.