According to some reports, more than 1700 civilians have been killed
since the year 2000 as anti-government forces and militants battle against the
authorities in the Philippines.
And that is not counting deaths amongst fighters on both sides.
Charlie Saceda, a staff photographer with the Philippine Star newspaper
for the last five years, has recently spent time in the south of the country
recording ongoing military operations and the effect they are having on communities
there.
No stranger to war zones – 28-year-old Charlie was once held hostage for three days in 2000 until 100 sacks of rice were delivered – he is currently covering skirmishes between government forces and rebels in the islands of Basilan and Jolo. As he says, “in this decades-old war, innocent civilians are always the losers.”
Charlie, who recently finished a diploma course on photojournalism at the Konrad Adenauer Asian Center for Journalism at the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines supported by World Press Photo, used a Canon 5d for wide angle shots and a Canon 1D for tighter ones. He shot with only available light around mid-morning with two lenses – the only ones he has - a 17-35mm f2.8 and 80-200mm f2.8.
“My favorite picture is of the women and children waiting for any news of peace so that they can return home,” says Charlie. “The uncertainty about their future is seen on the faces of the women as they are surrounded by their belongings.”
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