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The police vehicle was ambushed in Barangay Poblacion, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur on March 28, 2026.
Photo courtesy of Maguindanao Sur PPO
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police is investigating possible administrative lapses on the part of the Maguindanao del Sur provincial PNP chief after Saturday night’s ambush in Shariff Aguak that left five policemen dead and three others wounded.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered the review on the deployment of police officers in the area, noting that the ambush site was dark and lacked police presence.
“Investigators are looking into a possible administrative lapse on the part of the provincial director as to why there was no deployment in the area,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said during a press briefing at Camp Crame yesterday.
He added that investigators are verifying claims that the ambush site was near the provincial police office and used to have a detachment.
“The regional director is asking why the substation or detachment that used to be there is no longer in place,” Tuaño said, noting that the site is a blind curve that may have made the officers vulnerable.
Aside from this, the PNP is checking if the ambush had anything to do with the elections.
Initial findings point to local terrorist groups retaliating for recent operations conducted by government forces.
“Based on the initial assessment of the Bangsamoro regional police director, there are individuals who are the subject of ongoing operations in connection with the killing of our PNP personnel,” Tuaño said. “These are not just persons of interest. This involves a group.”
The Bangsamoro regional police formed a special investigation task group yesterday to look into the incident.
Muslimin Sema, labor and employment minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front, said all MNLF members in Shariff Aguak and nearby towns were ordered to help the task group in identifying the assailants.
BARMM Chief Minister Abdulrauf Macacua urged the assailants to surrender.
“We will run after you. We in the Bangsamoro government will wield our authority and help police locate all of you. The local government units in Maguindanao del Sur are helping us achieve that goal so better surrender now while there is still time,” Macacua said.
