Two soldiers and three civilians were injured after a hand grenade went off on the road in Barangay Mother Poblacion, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2026.

CCTV footage showed vehicles traveling along the road when a motorcycle suddenly turned back followed by a military vehicle.

Moments later, an explosion rocked the area, followed by a series of gunshots.

Residents were startled as police officers were seen pursuing unidentified individuals after the blast.

According to the 6th Infantry Division (6ID), two soldiers assigned to the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion were wounded after the explosion.

Three civilians also sustained injuries after they were hit by shrapnel. They were brought to a hospital and are now in stable condition.

“They are traversing the route from Cotabato City to South Cotabato Area wherein they were attacked by two unidentified riding-in-tandem in the vicinity of Shariff Aguak, Roundball doon sa gitna,” 6ID Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Ronald Suscano, said.

According to the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), authorities are still confirming which group opened fire after the explosion.

“Hindi pa kasi confirmed ngayon kung ano ‘yung side ang nagpaputok, kung sa army lang or pati ‘yung mga personnel natin from the PNP and if nagputok din ‘yung mga suspects na hinabol natin,” PRO-BAR Spokesperson, Capt. Steffi Salanguit, said.

Authorities are pursuing the perpetrators while investigators work to determine the motive behind the attack.

Security measures have been tightened following the implementation of the gun ban, as the election period for the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections began on Thursday, July 16.

“Pertaining to that security, very tight ‘yung security natin ngayon kasi nga nag-start na ang ating election period and meron na tayong gun ban, and ‘yung ating COMELEC checkpoint ay 24/7 all around sa BARMM,” Salanguit said.

“Pinaigting natin ‘yung checkpoint operations natin ‘yung mga patrolling natin expected sa mga area tulad ng Shariff Aguak na na- idenfity natin na medyo hotspot even before the gun ban started. Nag-deploy tayo ng additional personnel na securityrequirement in that area,” Suscano added.