Two civilian hostages were successfully retrieved to safety Thursday in a rescue mission.
They confirmed reports that their terrorist captors were exploiting non-combatants. Some female civilians, they added, were molested.
For the first time since the Battle of Marawi started on May 23, journalists were allowed to observe and cover the rescue operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), even as security forces continued to flush remnant terrorists out of their strongholds.
Aerial footages obtained by News5 revealed the devastation wrought upon Marawi. Some houses were ablaze from the military’s air strikes and ground offensive against rebel sniper’s nests.
Buildings have been defaced in the furious exchanges of firepower.
Decomposing cadavers were scattered on the pavement.
Elvin Cielo, one of those rescued, said: “Pakukunin kami ng kwan pulbura ng piccolo.
Yun lang ginawa namin, tapos ang mga bahay ipa-ransack … inutusan kami. Ginagawa nilang asawa ang iba, yung iba nandun lang inaasawa nila yung ibang babae; dun sa loob ginagalaw nila yung mga babae dun sa loob (We were made to collect blackpowder from fireworks like the piccolo. We were also directed, ordered, to ransack houses. They made some of the women their wives. They molested the women inside their quarters).
Elvin also told of at least six murders committed by the terrorists, killing off hostages who refused or were unable to cooperate and comply with their orders: “They were made to kneel and then killed by gunshot. We saw them do it. That made us afraid that they would do the same to us.”
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the civilian death toll had almost doubled to 44 as more cadavers were retrieved.
Some PhP 20 billion has already been committed by the government toward the rehabilitation of Marawi.
The Department of Budget and Management is ready to ask Congress for more funds, if needed.
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