Politics · Philippines Bureau
Two suspected extremists wounded in Maguindanao police shootout
Police in the Bangsamoro region engaged two suspects linked to militant groups during a gun ban enforcement operation. The incident occurred in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur on Friday afternoon.
LSN Philippines ·
COTABATO CITY — Two individuals suspected of links to Moro extremist groups were injured during an armed confrontation with police in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur on Friday, authorities said.
The shootout occurred as law enforcement conducted enforcement operations related to the election gun ban, according to Capt. Steffi Salanguit, spokesperson for the Philippine National Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR).
Details regarding the circumstances of the encounter and the conditions of the suspects were not immediately disclosed. The incident comes amid ongoing security operations in the conflict-affected Mindanao region ahead of electoral activities.
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has been subject to heightened police and military scrutiny to prevent armed groups from undermining the electoral process. Election gun ban enforcement typically intensifies during campaign periods and voting activities.