Roadside blast kills cop, civilian in Maguindanao

A POLICEMAN and a civilian were killed when a roadside bomb exploded in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao on Thursday evening, July 9, 2020.

Three other policemen were wounded.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Archie Gamboa condemned the attack and reminded all police units to always stay alert against any terrorist attack.

Police Master Sergeant Antonio Balasa and the civilian driver of the police car identified as Bobby were killed when the bomb exploded at around 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Those wounded from the explosion were Sergeants Larry Amoran and Guerrero Domingo and Corporals Guai Mangrag and Clyde Peria.

Major Erwin Tabora, chief of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, was also in the police car but was unharmed.

The blast happened in Barangay Mother in Shariff Aguak, some 500 meters away from Camp Datu Akilan Ampatuan, the provincial police office in nearby Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao.

“I offer my deepest condolences on behalf of the whole PNP family to the family of PMSg Balasa. Let me assure his family that will get the full benefits and financial assistance as well as the other four wounded officers who are recovering in two different hospitals in the region,” Gamboa said in a statement Sunday, July 12.

Peria was transferred to Cotobato Regional Medical Center due to excessive bleeding while the two other wounded police officers are recuperating in Maguindanao Provincial Hospital.

Shariff Aguak Major Oligario Salvador said they were looking at the involvement of Daesh-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in the incident. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)