Photojournalism | The Assignment | Cotabato | Mindanao Philippines

© 2011 Wazari Wazir | The Assignment | Cotabato | Mindanao Philippines

This is quite rare and special assignment that was given to me by my department, actually it was last minute assignment. We get an invitation from Ministry of Defense MINDEF for two day coverage for working visit Deputy Minister of Defence Malaysia YB Datuk Dr. Abdul Latiff Ahmad to Mindanao Philippines from 9th to 10th April 2011.

This is my first experience visiting Philippines and also my first experience flying with The Lockheed C-130 Hercules or better known as Charlie 130. It is not as comfortable as flying with commercial aircraft but it is an experience that I will never forget. The flight took off from Royal Malaysian Air Force TUDM in Subang at 04:45 AM in the morning but I was already at the airport since 01:00 AM with my colleague Mr Faizal. There were nobody around at that time, all other media members only arrive around 2:30 AM because we were told by MINDEF officer to be here at the airport no later than 03:00 AM.

The flight were smooth even though it was a little bit noisy but we were treat like VVIP inside by TUDM staff. At 08:20 AM we arrived in Labuan for refueling before took off and straight away heading for Cotabato Mindanao where we arrived at 09:15 AM.

Straight away after we arrived in Cotabato airport, we were taken to the International Monitoring Team IMT Headquarters in Cotabato. There were many checkpoints along the way before we arrive at the headquarters. I feel so “unsafe” here even though our convoy were escort by Philippines army behind, tailing us along the way from the airport until we arrived safely at the IMT Headquarters.

© 2011 Wazari Wazir | International Monitoring Team IMT Headquarters | Cotabato Mindanao | Philippines

According to IMT “personnel”, this is “Lawless Area”. There were many kidnapping and shoot to kills case here happening almost everyday, just a small case or argument here can leads to a murderer. We are like “hostage” here inside the wall of IMT or International Monitoring Headquarters. We were treat with sumptuous lunch right after our Deputy Minister of Defense arrive from Manila with other delegates.

After Media members get a short brief about International Monitoring Team operation here by Deputy Minister of Defense , we were then taken to Moro Islamic Liberation Front MILF Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat just 30 min from IMT Headquarters. Upon arrival Datuk Dr. Abdul Latiff were greeted by MILF Chieftain Ibrahim Murad and they have a closed door meeting together with media team.

Actually I do have a long story to tell here but I just don’t have a words for it at the moment, I will keep on updating this entry from time to time, just keep in touch…