This page features reporting on IED incidents in the Philippines. It is updated annually with a new overview map and incident log.
The map and incident log for each year (from 2022 onward) can be downloaded in PDF format at the end of each section below.
PHILIPPINES IED MAP (2023)
Analysis (January–December 2023)
- In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and adjacent provinces where Islamist militant groups are active, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Maute Group continued to use IEDs during 2023. State security forces, local transport companies, energy infrastructure, and civilians were targeted.
- The Maute Group bombing of a Catholic mass on 3 December 2023, at Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi city, indicates the continued desire of Islamic State-affiliated groups to launch mass-casualty attacks and disrupt the ongoing political transition in the BARMM, where the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leads an interim authority.
- Local transport companies remained a target of the BIFF, evidenced by the bombing of a passenger bus on 17 April 2023 in Isulan. Extortion was the suspected motive. Extortion may also explain attacks on energy infrastructure, with National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) electricity pylons targeted by both the BIFF and the Maute Group.
- The BIFF and the Maute Group retain significant bomb-making capabilities, with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) reporting the seizure of components. Abu Sayyaf, active on the island province of Basilan, also retains a limited capacity to construct IEDs, although the group is significantly diminished.
- IED attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA) often took place at the roadside, targeting state security forces and local opponents. Masbate and Samar witnessed attacks by the NPA in 2023, though the group retains the ability to construct and use IEDs in rural areas where it is active nationwide, as evidenced by the AFP’s regular seizure of components.
Incident log (January–December 2023)
| Date | Location | Group suspected responsible | Casualties |
| 23 January 2023 | Mamasapano (Barangay Tukanalipao), Maguindanao del Sur | BIFF | 2 killed, 4 injured (MILF rebels) |
| Incident details: A roadside IED explodes and BIFF militants open fire with automatic weapons, during an ambush targeting MILF rebels. The device was planted along the route of a MILF convoy. | |||
| 22 March 2023 | Placer (Barangay Locso-on), Masbate | NPA | 3 injured (2 AFP troops, 1 civilian) |
| Incident details: An IED, targeting government security forces, explodes near a school, wounding two AFP soldiers and a child. AFP troops later clash with NPA rebels near the site of the explosion. | |||
| 22 March 2023 | Dimasalang (Barangay Gaid), Masbate | NPA | 2 injured (PNP officers) |
| Incident details: An IED explodes at the roadside, targeting a mobile police patrol. The blast is followed by gunfire from NPA rebels and a resulting clash with PNP officers. | |||
| 27 March 2023 | Uson (Barangay Marcella), Masbate | NPA | 1 injured (PNP officer) |
| Incident details: A roadside IED explodes, targeting police officers. The personnel targeted had been providing security to another group of PNP officers deployed in the area when the blast occurred. | |||
| 17 April 2023 | Isulan, Sultan Kudarat | BIFF | 7 injured (civilians) |
| Incident details: An IED explodes on the lower level of a double-decker bus parked at a bus terminal in Isulan. The blast occurred as passengers were disembarking and embarking, en route from Cotabato city to General Santos city. A second device, located on the upper deck, was defused by PNP bomb-disposal experts at the scene. Investigations found that the components, shrapnel and construction of the device bore similarities to previous BIFF devices. The device was activated using a mobile phone. | |||
| 3 June 2023 | Las Navas (Barangay Magsaysay), Northern Samar | NPA | 2 killed (civilians) |
| Incident details: A roadside IED planted by NPA rebels explodes, killing two construction workers on a passing motorbike. Gunfire from the roadside was also reported. The two victims had been working on the construction of a farm-to-market road, making them possible NPA targets. | |||
| 12 June 2023 | Pikit (Barangay Batulawan), Cotabato | BIFF | None |
| Incident details: An IED explodes at the base of a National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) transmission tower. Three more IEDs at the base of the tower are defused by AFP–PNP bomb disposal experts. Investigations found that the IEDs were constructed from two mortar explosives and a rocket-propelled grenade, duct-taped together with a mobile phone as the trigger mechanism. The suspected motive was to disrupt electricity supply in the region or an attempt to extort the electricity company. | |||
| 22 July 2023 | Pikit (Barangay Batulawan), Cotabato | BIFF | None |
| Incident details: Two IEDs explode at the base of a NGCP transmission tower, causing minor damage. A third device, fashioned from an 81mm mortar, was defused by AFP-PNP bomb experts at the scene. | |||
| 7 August 2023 | Uson (Barangay Bonifacio), Masbate | NPA | 3 injured (civilians) |
| Incident details: A roadside IED explodes, wounding a village chief and two other people, all travelling on the same motorbike. Gunfire from the roadside was also reported. Two of the victims were reported to be NPA returnees (surrendered rebels) indicating an NPA motive for the attack. | |||
| 16 August 2023 | Shariff Saydona Mustapha (Barangay Ganta), Maguindanao del Sur | Unknown | 1 killed, 2 injured (civilians) |
| Incident details: An IED explodes outside a village hall, killing a village chief and leaving a councilman and another civilian wounded. It is unknown which group planted the device. | |||
| 8 September 2023 | Kauswagan (Barangay Paiton), Lanao del Norte | Maute Group | 1 killed (PNP officer) |
| Incident details: An IED blast topples an NGCP transmission tower. A member of a PNP bomb-disposal team is killed in a second IED explosion at the scene, after reportedly kneeling on the ground or picking up a mobile SIM card during a grid search, which was attached to an IED. It is unclear if the second IED was designed to target those responding to the initial blast, or if it had failed to explode initially. | |||
| 14 October 2023 | Datu Unsay (Barangay Malangog), Maguindanao del Sur | BIFF | 1 killed (BIFF rebel) |
| Incident details: A suspected BIFF bomb-maker or courier is killed when an improvised device in his possession explodes prematurely. | |||
| 15 October 2023 | Clarin (Barangay Lapasan), Misamis Occidental | Unknown | None |
| Incident details: A roadside IED explodes, damaging a vehicle in the convoy carrying the governor of Misamis Occidental province. Gunshots are also reported. It is unclear which group is responsible. | |||
| 29 October 2023 | Datu Salibo (Barangay Sambulawan), Maguindanao del Sur | BIFF | 1 killed (BIFF rebel) |
| Incident details: A suspected BIFF militant is killed when an IED that he had either assembled or was in possession of explodes prematurely. | |||
| 23 November 2023 | Datu Salibo (Barangay Pindetin), Maguindanao del Sur | BIFF | 1 killed (MILF rebel) |
| Incident details: A roadside IED explodes as MILF members are travelling by foot on a farm trail, killing one MILF rebel. It is unclear if the victim stepped on the device, or whether it was detonated remotely. | |||
| 27 November 2023 | Sumisip (Barangay Limbo Candiis), Basilan | Abu Sayyaf | 2 killed, 1 injured (CAFGU members) |
| Incident details: Two members of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) are killed, and one other is wounded, in an IED blast. The IED was reportedly planted along their route and contained fragments of jagged cast iron. Local officials indicated the IED was planted by Abu Sayyaf militants. It is unclear whether the IED was a trip-wire type device or detonated remotely using a mobile phone. | |||
| 3 December 2023 | Marawi city (MSU university), Lanao del Sur | Maute Group | 4 killed, 50 injured (civilians) |
| Incident details: An improvised bomb explodes during a Catholic mass being held in a gymnasium at Mindanao State University (MSU), killing four civilians and leaving 50 injured. The Islamic State-linked Maute Group claim responsibility. PNP officers recovered fragments from a 60mm mortar round at the scene, with the device being battery- or cellphone-operated. The AFP later discounts the possibility of a suicide bombing, with reports indicating that two rebels planted the IED before fleeing the scene. | |||
Notes on methodology
- This reporting is based on confirmed incidents of IED explosions in the Philippines in 2023. Incidents where IEDs were emplaced but defused by AFP or PNP bomb-disposal experts before they could explode as intended are not included in this incident log.
- This reporting does not include incidences of explosions from grenades or hand-held explosives, conventional weapons, or war remnants left behind from past conflicts.
- Details on the IED incidents included in this reporting are drawn from daily monitoring of media reports, with follow-up sometimes undertaken with local or military authorities in instances where details were unclear. This follow-up may be ongoing in some cases.
- Where an IED blast and gunfire occurred simultaneously or in quick succession, and it was not conclusively reported which weapon inflicted casualties, the casualties for the IED incident were recorded, with it specified that the incident also involved gunfire.
- This reporting is intended to be as exhaustive as possible. It is possible, however, that some IED blasts (likely smaller-scale incidents with no casualties, in rural areas) have gone unreported. The reporting will be updated if further incidents come to light.
Download 2023 report:
Contact and disclaimer:
Contact: Michael Hart (email: info.michaelhart@gmail.com)
This research is produced solely by the author, with the findings and analysis not representative of the view or position of any organization to which the author is affiliated or has worked with. Sources from media monitoring are cited as endnotes.
Citation: Michael Hart, “Philippines IED map: January–December 2023,” Asia Conflict Watch, updated August 2024.
PHILIPPINES IED MAP (2022)
Analysis (January–December 2022)
- The New People’s Army (NPA) targeted police and military forces using roadside IEDs across the Visayas, with the island of Samar a hotspot for such attacks. Primarily, the group used improvised landmines in these attacks, with devices often triggered using detonating cord or a mobile phone by rebels hiding in thick vegetation, before opening fire with automatic weapons. It is unclear if the NPA used victim-activated landmines.
- In Mindanao, the Islamic State-affiliated Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and an extortion gang, Al-Khobar, used IEDs to target passenger buses in the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte, Cotabato, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, injuring and killing civilians. Authorities linked the blasts to attempts to extort local transport firms.
- The Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf, though severely depleted, retained the capability to construct IEDs. While no blasts in 2022 were conclusively linked to Abu Sayyaf, the AFP defused several devices planted by the group in Sulu and seized components including ammonium nitrate, nails, batteries and blasting caps. The Maute Group was linked to an IED blast that toppled an electricity pylon in Lanao del Norte, causing power outages.
- Islamic State-affiliated groups based on mainland Mindanao pose an ongoing threat of IED attacks, as the discovery of makeshift bomb factories by the AFP in 2022 evidenced their production efforts. Such an encampment linked to the BIFF was seized by the AFP in Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao del Sur in March, while a Maute Group IED-making camp was found in a forested area of Marogong, Lanao del Norte in December.
Incident log (January–December 2022)
| Date | Location | Group suspected responsible | Casualties |
| 11 January 2022 | Aleosan (Barangay San Mateo), Cotabato | BIFF/Al-Khobar | 1 killed, 6 injured (civilians) |
| Incident details: An IED explodes in the rear portion of a bus on route to Cotabato city. The device was reportedly placed in a bag under a seat and detonated remotely using a mobile phone. Extortion of the bus company was the likely motive. Investigations found the IED bore the signature style of Al-Khobar, an extortion group with close links to the BIFF and Dawlah Islamiyah. | |||
| 25 January 2022 | Pinabacdao (Barangay Pelaon), Samar | NPA | 2 injured (1 AFP soldier, 1 CAFGU member) |
| Incident details: An IED, reported to be an improvised landmine, explodes at the roadside, wounding an AFP soldier and a Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) member near a rural outpost. | |||
| 13 February 2022 | Binalbagan (Barangay Bi-ao), Negros Occidental | NPA | 2 injured (PNP officers) |
| Incident details: An IED explodes at the roadside, targeting a passing police vehicle. Two PNP officers are wounded. The blast is followed by gunfire from NPA rebels. The group later claims responsibility. | |||
| 1 March 2022 | Cotabato city, Maguindanao del Norte | BIFF/Al-Khobar | None |
| Incident details: A bomb explodes in the back portion of a bus parked at a terminal in Cotabato city. Passengers had disembarked and no injuries were inflicted. Police reported that the IED was triggered remotely using a mobile phone. Extortion of the bus company was the likely motive for the attack. | |||
| 4 April 2022 | Las Navas (Barangay San Miguel), Northern Samar | NPA | 2 killed (PNP officers), 4 injured (2 PNP officers, 2 AFP troops) |
| Incident details: An IED, reported to be an improvised landmine, explodes at the roadside, targeting an AFP-PNP patrol. Few details are available, but the device was likely command-detonated. | |||
| 19 April 2022 | Legazpi city (Barangay Bariis), Albay province | NPA | 4 injured (AFP troops) |
| Incident details: An IED explodes during a gun battle between the AFP and NPA, injuring four soldiers. AFP troops recover three unexploded improvised landmines and a 100-meter wire near the blast site, indicating that the devices were set up to be triggered from a distance using detonating cord. | |||
| 24 April 2022 | Parang (Barangay Making), Maguindanao del Norte | BIFF/Al-Khobar | 6 injured (civilians) |
| Incident details: A bomb explodes in the back section of a bus, wounding six passengers. The bus was parked at the roadside at the time of the blast. A mobile phone was used to trigger the device remotely. PNP bomb-disposal officers later safely defuse a second device found on board the bus. The AFP cites terrorism and extortion of the bus company as possible motives for the attack. | |||
| 9 May 2022 | Kabacan (Barangay Poblacion), Cotabato | Unknown | None |
| Incident details: An IED explodes at the perimeter of an elementary school being used as a polling center for local elections. The device was triggered using a mobile phone and was fashioned from an 80mm mortar. Police say the blast was likely intended to create fear and disruption on polling day. | |||
| 26 May 2022 | Koronadal city, South Cotabato | BIFF | 2 injured (civilians) |
| Incident details: A bomb explodes in the back section of a bus. Two people, including a passing tricycle driver, are injured by shrapnel. Authorities report that the device was likely triggered by a mobile phone. The military says the BIFF likely carried out the attack in retaliation for recent AFP offensives. | |||
| 26 May 2022 | Tacurong city, Sultan Kudarat | BIFF | None |
| Incident details: An IED explodes at a bus station, but does not inflict any injuries. The blast occurred shortly after an explosion on a bus 35km away in Koronadal city, with both attacks linked to the BIFF. | |||
| 30 May 2022 | Isabela city, Basilan | Unknown | None |
| Incident details: An IED explodes in the parking lot of a food outlet in the central part of Isabela city. No injuries are reported, and it is unclear which group is responsible for placing the device. | |||
| 30 May 2022 | Isabela city (Barangay La Piedad), Basilan | Unknown | 2 injured (civilians) |
| Incident details: An IED explodes at the terminal of a local transport company, wounding two people and damaging four vehicles. The bomb was reportedly concealed in a package loaded on a bus earlier in the day from Lamitan city. The AFP suggests that Abu Sayyaf militants may be behind the two blasts in Basilan on 30 May, though the reports are unconfirmed and extortion is also considered a motive. | |||
| 8 June 2022 | Bongabong (Barangay Mambog), Oriental Mindoro | NPA | 4 injured (PNP officers) |
| Incident details: An IED, reported to be an improvised landmine, explodes at the roadside, targeting a vehicle of PNP Special Action Force (SAF) officers. The blast is followed by gunfire from rebels nearby. | |||
| 20 June 2022 | Lamitan city, Basilan | Unknown | None |
| Incident details: A bomb explodes near the gate of Lamitan City Hall. No injuries were reported. Police say the IED was left by the perimeter fence of the building by two unidentified men on a motorbike. | |||
| 5 July 2022 | Mapanas (Barangay Magsaysay), Northern Samar | NPA | 7 injured (AFP troops) |
| Incident details: An IED, reported to be an improvised landmine, explodes on a village trail, targeting AFP troops on patrol. NPA rebels were sighted nearby and fled after the attack, without an exchange of fire. The AFP said its troops were checking reports of mine-laying by the NPA when the blast occurred. | |||
| 19 July 2022 | Catubig (Barangay Osang), Northern Samar | NPA | 1 killed, 5 injured (AFP troops) |
| Incident details: A roadside IED, reported to be an improvised landmine, explodes, targeting AFP troops on patrol. The blast was followed by a 15-minute gun battle between AFP troops and NPA rebels. | |||
| 24 October 2022 | Kauswagan (Barangay Bagumbayan), Lanao del Norte | Maute Group | 1 killed (Maute Group militant) |
| Incident details: An IED explodes, toppling a National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) transmission tower. The blast causes power outages in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental, and across the Zamboanga peninsula. A man later identified by the AFP as a Maute Group militant is found dead at the blast site, indicating that the device exploded prematurely. Investigations found the IED was constructed using a 60mm mortar and detonated using a remote control switch. | |||
| 6 November 2022 | Tacurong city, Sultan Kudarat | BIFF | 1 killed, 11 injured (civilians) |
| Incident details: An IED explodes in the back portion of a bus on route to the terminal in Tacurong city, killing one passenger and leaving 11 injured. Authorities say the BIFF is likely responsible for the blast, citing extortion of the bus company as the motive. The device was detonated using a mobile phone. | |||
| 18 December 2022 | Las Navas (Barangay Quirino), Northern Samar | NPA | 6 injured (AFP troops) |
| Incident details: An IED, reported to be an improvised landmine, explodes, targeting AFP troops tasked with securing a water pipe construction project. The detonation mechanism of the device is unclear. | |||
Notes on methodology
- This reporting is based on confirmed incidents of IED explosions in the Philippines in 2022. Incidents where IEDs were emplaced but defused by AFP or PNP bomb-disposal experts before they could explode as intended are not included in this incident log.
- This reporting does not include incidences of explosions from grenades or hand-held explosives, conventional weapons, or war remnants left behind from past conflicts.
- Details on the IED incidents included in this reporting are drawn from daily monitoring of media reports, with follow-up sometimes undertaken with local or military authorities in instances where details were unclear. This follow-up may be ongoing in some cases.
- Where an IED blast and gunfire occurred simultaneously or in quick succession, and it was not conclusively reported which weapon inflicted casualties, the casualties for the IED incident were recorded, with it specified that the incident also involved gunfire.
- This reporting is intended to be as exhaustive as possible. It is possible, however, that some IED blasts (likely smaller-scale incidents with no casualties, in rural areas) have gone unreported. The reporting will be updated if further incidents come to light.
Download 2022 report:
Contact and disclaimer
Contact: Michael Hart (email: info.michaelhart@gmail.com)
This research is produced solely by the author, with the findings and analysis not representative of the view or position of any organization to which the author is affiliated or has worked with. Sources from media monitoring are cited as endnotes.
Citation: Michael Hart, “Philippines IED map: January–December 2022,” Asia Conflict Watch, updated August 2024.
ASIA CONFLICT WATCH 