2 cops hurt in Maguindanao roadside bomb attack

GUINDULUNGAN, Maguindanao -- Two police officers were hurt when a road side bomb exploded along the national highway here Friday night, the Army said.Capt. Joann Petinglay, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said injured by shrapnel were PO2 Abdurahman Lampak and PO3 Modarie Salibo, both of Guindulungan PNP.The injured policemen were with other members of Guindulungan PNP on board a Mahindra patrol car, led by PO3 Saiden Guiamad were patrolling the highway in Sitio Sawmill, Barangay Bagan, Guindulungan when the blast occurred at 9 p.m.After the blast, the police officers were shot by still unidentified gunmen, triggering a 40 minute firefight, according to Colonel Warlito Limet. The suspects fled undercover of darkness.Responding elements of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry battalion forced the attackers to flee.Petinglay said bomb experts recovered fragments of rifle grenade, cut nails, and broken mobile phones which served as triggering device.Police and military authorities believed the IED was planted by remnants of outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.