AL-BARKA, Basilan — A group of heavily armed men launched a brazen attack on the Al-Barka Municipal Police Station in Barangay Magcawa, Basilan, firing sustained gunshots and a rifle-propelled grenade at the facility, but the assault ended without casualties after the explosive failed to detonate, authorities said.
The attack occurred at around 12:45 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on July 2, shattering the calm in the municipality as residents heard approximately one minute of continuous gunfire directed at the police station.
According to the initial police investigation, the attackers positioned themselves behind a residential area roughly 700 meters from the municipal police station, giving them a direct line of sight before opening fire on the facility.
Authorities identified the suspected leader of the group as Abduljana Amjani, who was reportedly accompanied by six unidentified armed men during the attack.
In addition to the barrage of gunfire, one of the assailants fired a rifle grenade toward the police station. However, the projectile missed its intended target, landing approximately 50 meters away from the facility. The explosive also failed to detonate, preventing what could have been a far more devastating incident.
The unexploded ordnance posed no immediate danger to police personnel, nearby residents, or surrounding properties.
Despite the intensity of the assault, no police officers, civilians, or responding personnel were injured, and authorities confirmed that no government or private property sustained damage.
Following the attack, the suspects immediately fled toward an undetermined direction, triggering an extensive pursuit operation by security forces.
Police officers stationed at the Al-Barka Municipal Police Station quickly established defensive positions while simultaneously coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the local government to secure the area.
Additional security forces from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) and the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company (1st PMFC) were immediately deployed to reinforce the municipal police station, while nearby police stations were placed on heightened alert as dragnet operations were launched across the municipality.
Crime scene investigators, together with personnel from the Provincial Explosives and Canine Unit (PECU), processed the area and recovered several spent shell casings along with the unexploded rifle grenade.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialists later safely neutralized and recovered the unexploded projectile before conducting clearing operations to ensure there were no additional explosive threats in the vicinity.
In an interview, Thamie “Mhidz” Abdurauf, Al-Barka Municipal Councilor and Deputy Commander of the MILF 1st Unit Inner Defense, confirmed that the rifle grenade had been miscalculated and landed well short of the police station before failing to explode.
He noted that the malfunction prevented casualties and significant damage, describing the outcome as fortunate despite the seriousness of the attack.
Under the leadership of PLt. Jasfreel Acma, Officer-in-Charge of the Al-Barka Municipal Police Station, authorities have intensified security measures throughout the municipality. Police, military units, and local peacekeeping groups continue to coordinate closely to identify, locate, and apprehend the perpetrators while maintaining peace and order in the area.
Authorities have yet to establish the motive behind the attack, although investigators are pursuing multiple leads as they prepare criminal charges against those responsible.
Officials also appealed to residents to remain calm, avoid the area where the unexploded ordnance was recovered until authorities declared it safe, and rely only on verified information released through official government and law enforcement channels as the investigation and manhunt continue.