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Cop, driver killed; 4 others hurt in Maguindanao blastBy PNA

Manila, July 10 -- A roadside bomb explosion ripped through a police car in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao on Thursday evening, killing a policeman and its civilian driver while hurting four others.

In a report, Col. Arnold Santiago, Maguindanao police chief, identified the fatalities as Master Sgt. Antonio Balasa and a certain Bobby, the civilian driver.

Injured were identified as Sgts. Larry Amoran and Guerrero Domingo; and Corporals Guai Mangrag and Clyde Peria.

"Investigation is still ongoing," he said.

Onboard the police car was Maj. Erwin Tabora, chief of the provincial drug enforcement unit, who was reportedly not hurt in the blast.

Tabora's group was on board the vehicle some 500 meters away from Camp Datu Akilan Ampatuan, the provincial police office in nearby Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao, when the roadside bomb went off in Barangay Mother of Shariff Aguak around 8:30 p.m.

Maj. Oligario Salvador, Shariff Aguak police, said the bombing bore the signature of the Daesh-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Shariff Aguak Mayor Marop Ampatuan has condemned the attack and has offered a bounty of a still unspecified amount to any information leading to those behind the bombing.

"Let us not allow terrorism to prevail in our town as we have long worked hard for the peaceful atmosphere in our area," he said.