A mosque stands still beside the remains of residential buildings along Agus River at Barangay Bubong Madaya near the Balo-i Bridge in Marawi City. The place was once a stronghold of the ISIS-inspired Maute group. Journalists were permitted last August 30 to cross the bridge that connects Barangay Raya Saduc and Bubong Madaya, after it was recaptured by the government troops weeks ago. It is the main route of the military in delivering their supplies and reinforcement. (Divina M. Suson)
It was once known as a "Little Baguio" for the city's cool and fresh breeze. But today the air in Marawi smells of gunpowder. A few meters away from where journalists were traversing the bridge once controlled by armed militants, gun fighting continues. The government was also relentless in flushing out the militants in what they described as a small portion of the city's 87.55 square kilometers land area with continuous aerial bombardment.