Palace condemns IED attack, use of minors by armed group in Mindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 1): Palace condemns IED attack, use of minors by armed group in Mindanao
 
Malacañang on Saturday condemned the use of an improvised explosive device and so-called child warriors by armed groups fighting the government in Mindanao.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also urged the media to coordinate with officials on the ground especially in areas where fighting is likely to take place.

"Hindi maganda ang balitang yan at hindi tayo natutuwa (What happened on Saturday morning was not good and we are not amused)," she said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Initial reports of Saturday's incident showed at least six people, including two journalists, were injured in an IED explosion in Maguindanao.

The military does not discount the possibility the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, could be behind the attack.

Valte appealed to media agencies to abide by a safety protocol and to cooperate with government representatives, including those of the police and the military, especially in controlled areas.

Meanwhile, Valte said the Palace is quite disturbed by the discovery of the remains of three child soldiers in one of the areas where fighting between the BIFF and government troops took place.

"Kahindik-hindik ang balita na may ginagamit silang child soldiers, beyond the fact that it violates so many laws, not just ours but of international laws. We condemn the practice of using child soldiers...Walang lugar ang paggamit ng menor de edad sa ganitong labanan (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)," she said.

She said the government can help address the situation through child support services, as well as the commitment of its security forces that they will not use child soldiers or warriors.

But she also appealed to parents to make sure their children are not recruited for such exploitation.

"Sa mga magulang, pakiusap natin, sana huwag nilang payagan ang kanilang mga anak na magamit sila sa ganitong paraan (We appeal to parents not to allow their children to be exploited this way)," she said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=611798