Pinoys used as human shields in Algeria – survivor

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Islamic militants used foreign hostages as human shields to stop Algerian troops aboard helicopters from strafing them with gunfire, a Filipino survivor of the four-day bloodbath recounted Monday, January 21.

Father-of-four Joseph Balmaceda said he saw one Japanese hostage draped with explosives, while he and others had their hands bound with cable ties, during the ordeal at the In Amenas gas plant in the Sahara Desert that ended Saturday.

“Whenever government troops tried to use a helicopter to shoot at the enemy, we were used as human shields,” a clearly stressed Balmaceda told reporters shortly after arriving back in Manila.

“We were told to raise our hands. The government forces could not shoot at them as long as we were held hostage.”

Only survivor of exploded van

Balmaceda, nursing abrasions to his face and a loss of hearing, said he was the only survivor out of nine hostages who were aboard a van that exploded, apparently from C-4 explosives that the militants had rigged to the vehicle.

He said two militants were transferring the nine hostages to the central facility of the gas plant, but the bomb went off during a clash with Algerian security forces.

“The only thing left of the car was the back portion of the Land Cruiser,” said Balmaceda, 42.

“I was the only one who survived because I was sandwiched between two spare tyres. That is why I am still here and can talk to you.”

Balmaceda said the two militants driving the vehicle were also killed.

“But (other) hostage-takers were firing at me. It meant there were other terrorists,” he said.

“So I crawled about 300 metres to where the government forces were. And when I reached them I fainted. When I woke up I was in the hospital.”

Attack in revenge for French intervention in Mali

The Al-Qaeda-linked “Signatories in Blood” group said it attacked the gas plant in retaliation for a French military operation to evict Islamists from neighbouring Mali.

Most hostages were freed on Thursday in a first Algerian rescue operation, which was initially viewed by foreign governments as hasty, before the focus of public condemnation turned on the jihadists.

Balmaceda said the incident in which the vehicle exploded occurred on the second day of the siege, apparently during the first rescue operation.

The crisis ended on Saturday with a final assault by Algerian troops.

Dozens of foreigners are believed to have died during the siege, although authorities have yet to give a definite figure.

The Philippine government said earlier Monday that six Filipinos had been confirmed killed, and four were missing.

Kidnappers wanted to kill French, US hortages

Balmaceda, who worked at the facility as a maintenance technician for eight years, said the hostage takers had initially told him and other Filipinos that they were mainly interested in killing French and US nationals.

“We were told by the leader that: “This is not a problem with the Philippines, we don’t have a quarrel with the Philippines and you will not be touched. We have problems with France and the Americans’,” he said.

However he said he was with four other Filipinos when he was initially captured, and he had not seem them since. They were not in the van that exploded.

Balmaceda said he was overjoyed to be back in the Philippines and with his family.

“I am very very happy. I prayed to be reunited with them. I couldn’t die because I have four kids to take care of,” he said. – Rappler.com