MANILA, Philippines – Another friendly fire killed two soldiers and hurt 11 others in Marawi City, where fighting between Islamist extremists and government forces is now on its 51st day.
The information came from the office of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Affairs Chief Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo.
“Investigation is being conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding an incident where an ordnance missed its target during an airstrike conducted at about 12 noon of 12 July 2017,” said Arevalo.
Initial reports said the incident took place around 12 noon amid military air strikes against Maute and Abu Sayyaf-led terrorists in the Lanao del Sur capital.
A bomb reportedly exploded in a place that was 250 meters short of the target area, causing buildings to collapse, killing and injuring government troopers.
“Large debris from heavily reinforced buildings accidentally hit two of our personnel who (died )in the process,” Arevalo said.
The AFP is already coordinating with the families of the casualties and has formed a task force to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, 11 others sustained minor shrapnel wounds. All are ambulatory and are recuperating in the hospital.
“We are saddened by this unfortunate incident. We are attending to the needs of the families of our troops who died or were hurt,” said Arevalo.
Cognizant units from the AFP have formed a group that is now conducting initial investigations to determine the cause of the mishap and prevent the chances of it re-occurring,” he added.
Last May 30, a friendly fire also took the lives of 11 soldiers and wounded seven others.
The accident happened when one of two planes bombing rebel positions missed its target in the heart of Marawi.
The bombing error came during the first offensive deployment of fixed-wing aircraft in the operation, aimed at flushing out the Islamist gunmen who have defied expectations by clinging on through days of ground assaults and helicopter rocket attacks. -with additional reports from Reuters and PNA