Thursday, May 14, 2015

Army defends operation vs armed men in Maguindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (May 13): Army defends operation vs armed men in Maguindanao

The Army's 6th Infantry Division stressed on Wednesday that the Army operation in Talayan, Maguindanao on Monday was legitimate and did not violate the civil and political rights of the residents.

Capt. Joanne Petinglay, speaking for the 6th ID, told reporters the soldiers of the Army mechanized battalion based in Talayan simply responded to reports about the presences of armed men, believed to be members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the village of Katibpuan at past 5 a.m.

"As out troops were entering the village, they were met with volley of fires, forcing them to respond and a 15-minute firefight ensued," she said.

The firefight, which left a soldier wounded, was halted when the armed men fled and mingled with the civilians.

"Our troops cannot arrest civilians who were unarmed despite reports they were armed before the soldiers came," she said.

The wounded soldier was immediately evacuated to Camp Siongco Station Hospital and later transferred to Notre Dame Hospital.

Clearing operations conducted by troops at around 6 a.m. in the area further resulted in the recovery of a firearm and a magazine with four live rounds of ammunition.

Petinglay said remnants of the BIFF are still roaming around interior villages in Maguindanao's 10 towns after the massive law enforcement operations of Task Force Central was terminated in March.

"They are still there, trying to prove they are still a force to reckon with but as far as the military is concerned, they are considered a spent force," she said.

She urged local government officials, from town to village governments, to help the military and the police contain lawlessness in their communities so development could start.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=761529

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