MANILA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- An improvised explosive device that went off on a road in Maguindanao Province in southern Philippines have killed a police officer and a civilian, the Philippine National Police chief said on Saturday.
General Archie Gamboa said four other police officers have also been wounded in the convoy attack that took place Thursday some 300 meters away from the provincial police headquarters in Shariff Aguak town.
"(I) condemn the new attack on police security forces," Gamboa said in a statement.
A police car was riddled with holes in the wake of the blast. Local police blamed the attack on Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) militants that have carried out similar attacks in the past.
No group has claimed responsibility for Thursday's attack.
Gamboa said one of the four injured police officers was moved to a bigger regional hospital due to "excessive bleeding". The three others are now recuperating in a provincial hospital, he added.
Gamboa reminded "all police units on the ground to be alert and vigilant as criminal and terrorist elements continue to plot and operate against police security forces in this time of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic."
The BIFF, composed of around 200 to 300 men, are blamed for bombings and other atrocities in Central Mindanao region in southern Philippines. Enditem
