2 civilians injured in military air strike against rebels

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Two teenagers were injured in a recent air strike conducted by the Philippine military's attack helicopter against a group of Abu Sayyaf insurgents in Basilan, a military spokesman disclosed today.

Captain Jefferson Somera, spokesman for the Philippine Army's 1st Infantry Division, said the military received the information at around 12:30 p.m. last Sunday, saying that 11 Abu Sayyaf men were witnessed at barangay Cambug, Al Barka town aboard five motorcycles.

Somera said the intelligence personnel were sent to verify the information. The presence of the rebels, which was having a picnic then, was confirmed at around 1:10 p.m. Sunday.

According to Somera, at around 3:30 p.m., a Philippine Air Force aircraft sighted the group to be fleeing aboard a pump boat. Later, A MG-520 attack helicopter delivered rockets on the Abu Sayyaf men.

Somera said the military were yet to determine whether there were Abu Sayyaf casualties in the airstrike. However, two civilians, who were about 30 meters from the impact area, were injured when they were hit by rocks shattered by the rockets.

"We received information about two civilians hit by rocks. Their injuries are not serious, they were not hit by shrapnel. They were hit by rocks, their injuries are superficial," he said.

Somera said the victims were brought to a hospital and one of them was already discharged. The medical expenses of the two victims were shouldered by the military, he added.

The official said there were no civilians at the vicinity when the intelligence personnel conducted the reconnaissance, but some civilians went near the location of the Abu Sayyaf members before the air strike.