MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — A roadside bombing in North Upi, Maguindanao before dawn on Saturday left seven Marines injured, local police said.
The victims — Maj. Romulo Ducay, Cpls. Ryan Cabual, Arnel Jiun, Oliver Albo, Alvin Sangadan and PFCs Johnny Panday and Gerwin Perez — belong to the 5th Marine Battalion based in Barangay Mirab in North Upi.
Senior Superintendent Agustin Tello, director of the Maguindanao provincial police, said initial reports from the municipal police only indicated that the Marines were hurt in an explosion along a road in Barangay Mirab.
He said the Marines were rushed to the hospital in the Army’s Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat town.
Barangay Mirab is a peaceful area in the northwest area of the municipality.
"We are still investigating the incident," Tello told The STAR on Saturday morning. Local officials in North Upi are assiting the investigation.
Sources from the municipal peace and order council said they have no clues yet on who are responsible for the attack. — John Unson