Phl flag raised in BIFF enclave

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines – Government troops hoisted the Philippine flag at the biggest enclave of the Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front (BIFF) in Shariff Saidona town here yesterday, signaling the success of the weeklong military offensives against the outlawed group.

Troops from the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, 1st Mechanized Brigade, and 6th Infantry Division hoisted the Philippine flag at the BIFF enclave in Barangay Ganta.

The seven-hectare camp, which housed more than 500 bandits led by Ustadz Karialan, fell at dusk on Friday, after five days of air, artillery and ground offensives.

The assault, however, resulted in 10 injured, including two journalists who came along with the troops to cover the event.

Six soldiers and two unidentified civilians were also wounded in the blast.

Jeff Caparas, a reporter of Manila-based TV-5, and his cameraman, Adrian Bulatao, sustained shrapnel wounds in different parts of their bodies.

Officials said a homemade bomb that was likely set off by the rebels injured the two journalists.

Regional military spokesman Col. Dickson Hermoso said Caparas and Bulatao were reporting in Datu Saudi town near the site of an earlier explosion, which caused no casualties, when a second bomb exploded.

He said the two journalists were wounded in the legs but were in “good condition.”

The head of TV-5’s news division, Luchi Cruz-Valdes, however, said Bulatao’s injury was “serious” with shrapnel wounds over the right side of his body.

“Bulatao is in shock but conscious, in pain,” she said in a text message.

Caparas was also wounded but still on his feet, she added.

“It was a good thing they were wearing protective helmets and vests,” Hermoso said.

Caparas later said over the TV station that his crew had stopped to cover an earlier bomb blast when another explosion took place.

The bombs are typically fashioned from unexploded mortars and rocket-propelled grenades triggered electronically by cell phones.

“That is their signature based on what we have recovered from their (BIFF) camp,” Hermoso said of yesterday’s explosion.

“They just set off bombs in civilian communities and it does not matter to them who gets hit, and this is an example,” he said.

Malacañang condemned the use of improvised explosive devices and the recruitment of child warriors by the BIFF.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also called on journalists to coordinate their coverage with officials, particularly in high-risk areas.

“What happened (yesterday) morning was not good and we are not amused,” Valte said.

She said Malacañang was also disturbed by reports that troops discovered the remains of three rebels who were described to be in their early teens.

“We are outraged that this group used child soldiers. This violates not just our laws but international laws as well. We condemn the practice of using child soldiers. Minors have no place in the battlefield,” Valte said.  â€“ With Aurea Calica, AP