ZAMBOANGA CITY – A policeman and a civilian were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded along a provincial road in Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao, Thursday night.

According to Maguindanao Provincial Police Office Director Col. Arnold Santiago, four other policemen were wounded in the bomb attack that happened just when two vehicles bearing policemen from the Second Provincial Mobile Force Company (2nd PMFC) of the Maguindanao police were about to reach their station at around 8:30 p.m., July 9.
Santiago said Police Master Sergeant Antonio Balasa was killed in the blast, as well as a civilian identified only as a certain Bobby.
Wounded were Police Staff Sergeants Larry Amoran and Guerrero Domingo, and Police Corporals Guai Mangrag and Clyde Peria.
Santiago said members of a terror group operating in Maguindanao could have planted the IED along Poblacion Mother, just a few meters from the 2nd PMFC headquarters, and Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) of Maguindanao.
It was not clear in Santiago's report if "Bobby" was a bystander, or was with the team of policemen when the IED attack happened.
Peria was recommended by the attending physician to be transferred to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) because of continuous bleeding.
CRMC is a government owned hospital located in Cotabato City, which serves the Bangsamoro region (BARMM).
Santiago has ordered all policemen to be on alert at all times.