Armed men believed to have connections with a local terror group killed a policeman and a civilian in a bomb attack near the provincial police headquarters in Shariff Aguak town of Maguindanao.
Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the bomb attack in Barangay Poblacion Thursday was followed by an ambush on responding policemen.
He identified the slain cop as Police Master Sergeant Antonio Balasa. The civilian who was identified only as a certain “Bobby” also died.
“I offer my deepest condolences on behalf of the whole PNP family to the family of PMSg Balasa who died while on duty. Let me assure his family that they 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,” said Gamboa.
Gamboa said the four wounded policemen were taken to the Maguindanao Provincial Hospital. One of them was transferred to the Cotabato Regional Medical Center.
They were Police Staff Sgts. Larry Amoran and Guerero Domingo and Police Corporals Guia Mangrag and Clyde Peria.