Philippines
Journalists injured in crossfirePosted Oct 25 2008
Reporters Without Borders noted that a group of journalists was fired upon in the Maguindanao province in the Philippines on Oct. 1. Three correspondents were reported shot during a supposed conflict between the army and alleged members of separatist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front. However, the group denied claims of crossfire, saying there were no troops of theirs in the area when the incident happened. According to IFEX, the group also accused the government of shooting at the journalists to stop them from taking photos.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reports the fighting started around 9 a.m. when the army allegedly spotted members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front along the national highway. Agence France Press photographer Mark Navales, Philippine Daily Inquirer correspondent Jeoffrey Maitem and GMA-7 News correspondent Ferdinand Cabrera were taking photographs and footage in a nearby village at the time, says Reporters Without Borders. The village was recently destroyed by Moro rebels.
“We ducked for cover inside our van, and our driver hurriedly left the area. Some sniper bullets were going our direction,” Navales told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Both the army and the liberation front have denied shooting or even being in the area when the incident took place. Army spokesman Maj. Armand Rico told GMA-7 that “a lawless MILF group” fired at the journalists; while Moro Islamic Liberation Front spokesman Eid Kabalu told the Inquirer that they had no troop movements and “The bursts of fire that happened came from the government side.”
“I think it's only part of their move to prevent reporters from taking pictures of houses still on fire,” Kabalu said.