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By Al Jacinto, Correspondent
ZAMBOANGA CITY: A US MH-60 helicopter was fired
at while on a humanitarian mission in Mindanao, reports said
Tuesday.
The chopper, operating from the USNS Mercy
hospital ship anchored off Maguindanao province, returned to deck
with two bullet holes in the tail rotor, according to CNN, which
quoted a US Navy report.
The crew had been unaware of the bullet strikes
during the flight. The attack on the aircraft prompted the USNS
Mercy to suspend humanitarian operations.
“The holes appear to be an entry and exit
point from a single bullet,” said Cmdr. Jeff A. Davis, a US Navy
spokesman.
There were no reports of injuries and the US
Navy did not know when the shots were fired at the helicopter that
returned to the ship after picking up 11 passengers from a site 50
miles near Cotabato City.
An MH-60 helicopter operating from USNS Mercy
hospital ship had gone to pick up 11 passengers about 50 miles
inland, and two bullet holes were found when the aircraft returned
to the ship with the passengers.
US, Philippine military officials in the
Philippines did not issue any statement about the attack. American
and Filipino military commanders in Mindanao usually keep secret
such incidents to the local media. In 2001, rebels in Basilan Island
also attacked a US helicopter transporting American soldiers
training local troops in anti-terrorism warfare.
No groups or individuals claimed responsibility
for the attack, but several rebel groups, such as the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front and New People’s Army, are operating in Mindanao.
The MILF on Tuesday condemned the attack and
said it would investigate the incident. “We condemn the attack.
The helicopter is on a humanitarian mission benefiting thousands of
Muslims, including MILF patients and we will help authorities
determine who is behind the attack on the helicopter,” Eid Kabalu,
a rebel spokesman, told The Manila Times.
He said many armed groups are operating in areas
where the USNS Mercy is holding humanitarian missions. “There are
many armed groups in the area, from private armies of politicians to
criminal gangs,” he said.
The USNS Mercy, which arrived last month, is on
a two-week medical mission in Mindanao, where Filipino troops are
battling Abu Sayyaf militants and communist insurgents. Both groups
have previously attacked US targets in the southern Philippines.
Besides the medical missions, the USNS Mercy is
also supporting dental, veterinary, and construction assistance
programs ashore at select locations in Mindanao. Filipino and US
soldiers will also work together to build schools and roads as part
of engineering civic action program.
It is the first time the USNS Mercy sailed to
Mindanao. In June 2006, the 272.5-meter-long USNS Mercy also held a
month-long series of medical missions in Zamboanga City, Basilan,
Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces. The USNS Mercy was also in the
Philippines in 1986 during a humanitarian mission. At least 25
percent of the ship’s crewmembers are Filipino-Americans.
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