Two civilians were wounded when unidentified men shelled a residential area in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, with a regional police commander saying that the mortar also landed near the house of the town mayor.

Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said that the firing of mortars were followed by a volley of shots from M16 rifles.

Latag said the incident happened at around 7 p.m. on Saturday, adding that they are yet to identify the perpetrators and determine the motive.

“One 60mm mortar landed around 150 meters away from the house of Ampatuan Mayor Datu Zacaria Sangki while two others landed in nearby areas,” said Latag.

He identified the injured victims as Ali Guilat and Akmad Guilay whom he said were immediately taken to the nearby hospital.

“They were seriously wounded since one of the mortars landed in their house,” said Latag.

Police investigators said the target could be the house of Sangki and his security officer identified as Rajim Sugadol, adding that the mortars might have misfired.

The house of the victims, it was learned, is located 10 meters away from the house of Sugadol.