5 Wounded in Maguindanao Grenade Attack; Local Terror Group Suspected

Five individuals, including two soldiers and three civilians, sustained injuries in a grenade attack targeting a military convoy in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, Philippines, on Tuesday morning. Cpls. Jessie Jay Bulanay and Arnel Calapan of the Army’s 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion suffered shrapnel wounds to the knee and hand, respectively. The civilian victims, identified as Bassir Batong, Pamiya Bulingkig, and John Dave Santiago, were in a tricycle when the grenade exploded in Barangay Mother Poblacion and sustained shrapnel wounds to the chest, arms, and shoulders. All injured parties were transported to the Bangsamoro Regional Hospital and Medical Center. Initial investigation revealed that the convoy, consisting of two military trucks, was en route to Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, for a routine marketing mission. CCTV footage captured the second truck swerving moments before the explosion. Witnesses described the suspects, who were wearing black and green shirts and denim pants, as speeding away on motorcycles after the attack. Authorities recovered a grenade safety lever near the scene. Police have established roadblocks and checkpoints in an effort to apprehend the perpetrators. The Army’s 6th Infantry Division stated that there are indications pointing to the involvement of members of the local terrorist group Dawlah Islamiya. Police are investigating the incident with the possibility of terrorism in mind. This incident underscores the persistent security challenges in the southern Philippines, where local terrorist groups continue to pose a threat. The region has a history of insurgent activities, and despite government efforts, maintaining stability remains an ongoing concern.