To avoid unnecessary injuries or even death, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) advised media personnel covering the clearing operations against "Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters" (BIFF) remnants in Maguindanao to be security conscious and if impossible, use proctective gear at all times.
This was in wake of two IED (improvised explosive device) attacks against military convoys where media vehicles are present.
In the first incident which took place Feb. 1, two TV5 television crewmen were wounded by shrapnel.
"Our Constitution guarantees freedom of the press (and) our AFP will not curtail that freedom but we would like to appeal to media to think of safety first before any story," AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.
"We cannot dictate whether they should go or not go, what we can tell you is (that) safety is paramount over any story we will advise media when it is unsafe, we (would) like the media follow certain measures like (use) of protective," he added.
Zagala also urged media practitioners in the Maguindanao area to develop their "situational awareness" so that they will not be caught flatfooted.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=613197
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