A grenade attack injured five people on the third day of the election gun ban for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections, which are scheduled for September 14.

The explosion occurred early Saturday near a grand mosque in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, approximately 50 meters from where Mayor Akmad Ampatuan’s bulletproof vehicle was ambushed by gunmen armed with an RPG on January 25.Police and bomb disposal experts inspected the blast site, while emergency responders rushed the injured to a regional medical center.The mayor urged calm and cooperation with authorities, emphasizing unity amid the incident.The attack highlights ongoing security challenges during the election period, as the gun ban aims to prevent violence.Authorities are investigating the attack, which follows previous incidents involving armed groups targeting officials.

The grenade attack adds to concerns about public safety ahead of the elections, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and coordination between local and national agencies.