Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday expressed alarm over the use of rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) in the ambush targeting Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao Mayor Datu Akmad Mitra Ampatuan Sr., saying the presence of such firepower among civilians reflects a dangerous erosion of peace and order in Mindanao.
Speaking in The Hague, Duterte condemned the attack and called for deeper investigation, regardless of reports that the suspects had already been killed.
“Hindi ‘yan normal at hindi ‘yan dapat pinapalampas,” she stressed, urging authorities to explain how civilians were able to obtain military-grade weapons and use them openly in broad daylight.
The ambush occurred Sunday morning as Ampatuan’s vehicle was heading home. His SUV was struck directly by an RPG but managed to keep moving, allowing him to escape. Two of his security personnel were wounded in the firefight, while police later confirmed all four suspects were killed in a hot pursuit operation.
Despite this, Duterte cautioned against treating the incident as routine, warning that the normalization of heavy weapons on public roads sends a dangerous signal in a region long plagued by political violence. She emphasized the need for accountability and dismantling armed networks capable of such attacks.
The Philippine National Police said it is investigating possible motives, including political rivalry and revenge, and has formed a special task group to handle the case.