Authorities are looking into retaliation as a possible motive behind the ambush that killed five police officers and wounded three others in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur.

According to the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), the attack may have been carried out in retaliation to previous law enforcement operations in the area where lawless groups are known to operate.

“Isa na yung retaliation ng previous law enforcement operation ng ating platoon, so yung presence ng lawless armed group, meron din doon kaya nga nag-intensify sa area na yan ng security operations,” PRO-BAR Spokesperson, Capt. Steffi Salanguit, said.

PRO-BAR said the victims, all members of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company, were on their way back to their detachment at Camp Datu Akilan after conducting patrol and police visibility operations when their patrol car was attacked by unidentified armed suspects upon reaching Maguindanao Street in Barangay Mother Poblacion evening on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Based on accounts of one of the officers who got wounded, the area was dark at that time the explosion occurred, which was followed by a series of gunfire. The driver was reportedly among those who were hit first, preventing the group from escaping.

“Sabi ng isa sa victim natin na wounded, yung area ay madilim, and then bigla na lang may sumabog. After ng pagsabog, hindi na sila nakaalis dahil sinundan na agad yung series of gunfire. Isa sa unang tinamaan ay yung driver(na pulis) so hindi na kinaya na i-forward pa yung patrol car nila na umabot sa provincial headquarter,” Salanguit added.

Police have already identified persons of interest while pieces of evidence are being validated.

“We have already identified initial persons-of-interest, however patuloy pa yung validation natin of evidence. So hindi pa natin pwede i-disclose at this time para ma -ensure natin ang success ng on-going operation but rest assured na we are exerting all efforts para sa immediate identification and arrest nitong mga suspect,” Salanguit said.

Police noted that this was the fifth ambush recorded in the area, two of which were reported in 2019 and 2023. Two other incidents also involved improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The Bangsamoro government condemned the incident and ordered concerned ministries to coordinate with law enforcement agencies to expedite the investigation and ensure accountability.