Former Maguindanao del Sur Governor Esmael Mangudadatu said the explosion within the compound of the municipal hall of Buluan town may be related to the 2025 midterm elections.

Mangudadatu, who is running for congressman, said the perpetrators may want to disrupt the election.

“Walang iba kundi guluhin yung election… at tsaka talagang i-ju-justify nila na ilipat ‘yung canvassing. Hindi naman pwedeng basta-bastang ilabas. Gusto nilang i-justify yung COMELEC control, eh,” Mangudadatu said.

On Friday, April 18, three alleged grenades were thrown by motorcycle-riding suspects and went off in front of the municipal hall, which injured a 31-year-old man.

A vehicle parked in the area also caught fire and a water refilling station outside the municipal hall owned by a candidate running for vice mayor in the town was also damaged.

The municipal hall is only a few meters away from the office of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

“Kasalukuyan pa rin tayong naghahanap ng mga ebidensya (mula) sa possible witnesses na makapagtuturo kung sino ang posibleng may kagagawan ng insidente. At the same time, inaalam pa ang pagkakakilanlan ng mga naka-motorcycle na nakunan (ng CCTV),” Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, said.

Last week, the poll body placed Buluan town under its control following the shooting and other incidents that happened since the start of the election period in January 12.

“So ngayon, prepared na ang ating tropa para sa security na nilatag para sa upcoming elections. Patuloy pa rin ang ginagawa nating monitoring at pagbabantay sa mga lugar na yan kung anuman yung mga banta,” Ventura added.