Twin IED blasts rock Ampatuan town

Twin explosions jolted Ampatuan town in Maguindanao, forcing authorities to temporarily shut down a portion of national highway  in the area on Friday morning.

An initial police investigation showed that the blasts that took place at about 8 a.m. were from  improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu’s executive secretary Eeman Aljani said she heard a loud blast, as she was only several meters from the epicenter of the first explosion along Ampatuan highway.

“Before the first explosion I noticed three army trucks coming from the opposite direction, then suddenly explosions were heard,” she said.

Aljani was coming from Buluan, Maguindanao and was about to proceed to Cotabato for a project inspection when the explosions took place. 

Senior Superintendent Madz Mukaram, the newly installed Maguindanao provincial police director, said no injuries from the blasts have been reported  to his office, so far.

Investigation into the incident is ongoing. —LBG, GMA News