Shariff Aguak Ambush: PH Mayor Attacked Using RPG And Survives - Now The Three Suspects Are Dead

Three suspects have been killed following a brazen ambush on the convoy of Shariff Aguak Mayor Akmad Ampatuan in Maguindanao del Sur, where attackers used a rocket-propelled grenade. The mayor escaped unharmed on 25 January thanks to his armoured Toyota Land Cruiser, but two security escorts suffered injuries.

This marks the third assassination attempt on Ampatuan since 2014, highlighting ongoing security issues in the southern Philippines. Authorities swiftly pursued the assailants, recovering weapons including the RPG launcher.

Details of the Attack

The ambush occurred at around 6:30 a.m. in Barangay Poblacion, Shariff Aguak, as Ampatuan returned home from the local market in his black bulletproof vehicle. A white minivan approached the two-car convoy near the municipal hall, and two armed men disembarked. One fired an improvised rocket-propelled grenade directly at the mayor's Land Cruiser, causing smoke and damage but failing to halt it.

The vehicle accelerated away, ensuring the mayor's safety. Meanwhile, the backup pickup truck was struck by bullets from automatic rifles. CCTV footage captured the sequence, showing the suspects' calculated moves. 'CCTV footage showed the suspects emerging from a van, one of them carrying an RPG,' said P/Capt. Steffi Salanguit, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The injured escorts, Pfc Manuel Arcega Dondiego and civilian Lakman Eso, sustained abdominal wounds and received treatment at a nearby medical centre. No civilians were harmed in the crossfire, though the incident disrupted the quiet morning in the town. Ampatuan's vice mayor, Hadji Oping Ampatuan, shared the footage online, underscoring the attack's audacity.

Hot Pursuit Operation

Immediately after the ambush, a joint team from the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army's 90th Infantry Battalion initiated a hot pursuit. The suspects fled in their minivan towards Barangay Meta in neighbouring Datu Unsay town. Security forces cornered them there, leading to a brief but intense shootout. All three assailants were killed in the exchange of fire.

They were identified as Budtong 'Rap-Rap' Alim Pendatun, Tekz Malid Pendatun, and Puasa Oting Madid. From the getaway vehicle, authorities recovered a B40 RPG launcher and several high-powered rifles. The Shariff Aguak Municipal Police Station described the attackers as 'peace spoilers' in a statement, condemning the disruption to local stability. In a post on X from ABS-CBN News, it was reported that a special investigation task group has been formed to probe the RPG attack further.

Officials noted the operation's success in neutralising the threat swiftly, preventing potential further violence. No security personnel were injured in the clash, and the area was secured promptly. This response demonstrates the coordinated efforts in the Bangsamoro region to maintain order amid historical tensions.

A History of Assassination Attempts

This latest incident is hardly a surprise given Ampatuan's past. In December 2014, while serving as vice mayor, he survived an ambush in Guindulungan town, but two escorts were killed. Five years later, in December 2019, another attack in Shariff Aguak left him injured and two security personnel dead.

Ampatuan is the grandson of the late Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr, a figure central to the infamous 2009 Maguindanao massacre that claimed 58 lives. The family has long been entangled in the region's political feuds and clan rivalries. Such violence remains a persistent issue in Maguindanao del Sur, despite peace efforts in the Bangsamoro area.

'The mayor is safe,' confirmed his executive assistant Anwar Kuit Emblawa shortly after the event. As of 26 January 2026, investigations into the Shariff Aguak ambush continue, with no arrests beyond the deceased suspects. Local officials have called for calm while vowing to address underlying causes of political violence in the province.