MARAWI/ILIGAN CITY – It is Day 6 of the siege of Marawi City, Lanao del Sur’s jewel turned upside down by marauding homegrown terrorists seeking full recognition from ISIS.
Authorities say 90 percent of the city’s 200,000 population have fled since some 200 Maute Group members took over a hospital, torched government facilities and a school, killed and injured security forces, and planted black flags that resembled those used by groups elsewhere courting ISIS recognition and funding.
On the first night of the siege on May 23, President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao, and government troops have continued the task of flushing out the terrorists who have resorted to guerrilla-type operations – hiding in abandoned homes, targeting soldiers with sniper fire, and taking civilian hostages.
This, as a humanitarian crisis has unfolded with the evacuation of most of Marawi’s residents – to nearby Iligan City and elsewhere. On all types of vehicles – with help from the Red Cross – and, many by foot, they continue to file out each day, bringing along whatever their arms, already weakened by lack of food and water, can carry.
Photos below by InterAksyon’s Erwin Mascarinas tell the story: