After almost 5 months inside the battle area, the 1st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army has left the city Friday morning, October 20, following a send-off ceremony held inside the military’s Camp Ranao.
When President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi City liberated from terrorists’ influence last Tuesday, October 17, reporters covering the crisis in the country’s only Islamic city got a glimpse of the face of the destruction inside the battle zone.
Displaced residents in the cleared areas of this city have already returned to their homes, said the deputy commander of Joint Task Force Ranao on Thursday, October 19.
A group of Marawi residents are planning to file a class suit against the government for the destruction of the city’s properties and the deaths of civilians due to the conflict between state forces and local terrorists.
The day after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte declared as liberated the embattled city of Marawi, the city and provincial government units announced they were speeding up the recovery and eventual return of displaced residents in the controlled or cleared areas.
The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) on Monday, October 16, directed all its units to prevent a possible attack from terrorist groups following the death of Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and Maute group leader Omar Maute.
The remains of slain Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Isnilon Hapilon and Maute Group leader Omar Maute will receive an Islamic burial but the military says it will not disclose where the ceremony will take place.
Her family had millions-worth of hardware business and a house and lot in Marawi City.
Government soldiers recovered 27 more bodies at the main battle site here since Monday.
President Rodrigo Duterte said it would take another president to seal a peace accord with the communists.
