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Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Gunfire hits US military-chartered helicopter
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Gunmen fired at a US military-chartered helicopter stationed in Western Mindanao while flying over the island province of Basilan.
An American civilian was slightly wounded in the incident, said an embassy official Tuesday.
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A Basilan-based Philippine military official said the incident took place Monday morning over the town of Tipo-Tipo, Basilan province.
Brigadier General Juancho Sabban, chief of the military's Task Force Thunder, said the US military-chartered helicopter came from the province of Sulu on a re-supply mission and was passing over the town of Tipo-Tipo when the gunmen shot the aircraft.
"The place where the incident occurred is known to be a 'hazard area' for aircraft to fly over since there are armed men that have been shooting whenever an aircraft passes over it," Sabban revealed.
US Embassy deputy Press Attache Karen Schinnerer said the helicopter carrying American civilians flew back to a Zamboanga City airfield without any difficulty after it was hit.
An American aboard was slightly injured by flying debris, Schinnerer told The Associated Press without elaborating.
The US military was investigating the attack, Schinnerer said, adding that it had not prompted any changes in US military ground or air activities in the southern Mindanao region.
Although it was not yet sure whether it was the handiwork of the Abu Sayyaf, Sabban said there are bandits that are hiding in some parts of Tipo-Tipo town.
The US military-chartered helicopter with markings "Evergreen" has been servicing the US forces stationed here in Western Mindanao places, like Sulu, Basilan, and this city.
Sabban said he has deployed personnel to track down the gunmen who shot the helicopter.
American troops have been based in Basilan, Zamboanga and nearby Jolo island since 2002, providing counterterrorism training and weapons to Filipino soldiers battling al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf militants. (AP/With Bong Garcia/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (December 19, 2007 issue)
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