Mass exodus is ongoing in Marawi City as residents flee to safer areas following the heavy fighting between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Maute group of local terrorists.
Vice-Governor Harouin Al-Rashid Alonto Lucman Jr. reported that “right now, the highway going to Iligan, may traffic jam (there is traffic jam along the highway going to Iligan City).”
Lucman said, “may mass evacuation ng mga tao sa Marawi papuntang Iligan simula pa kagabi. Dahil sa bilis ng mga pangyayari, individual efforts na po ang evacuation (There is mass evacuation of people going to Marawi since last night. Since events happened very fast, the evacuation is being effected through the individual efforts of the civilians themselves.)”
Lucman reported, fear for their safety prompted the residents of Marawi City to leave their homes.
“Kasi marami ang putukan as of last night,” Lucman recalled.
Lucman said, the security situation in Marawi City, although already under the control of the military, is still very fragile.
“Hindi ka pwedeng dumaan sa major roads (You cannot pass through major roads). The presence of Maute group is all over the city. To be sure, huwag muna tayong pumunta ng Marawi (do not go to Marawi at this time),” he said.
(Police officers man a checkpoint along a highway in Iligan City on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. Photo credits: Ted Aljibe/AFP)
The vice governor reported that they were surprised by the sudden arrival of the local terrorists.
“Mga 200 to 300 sila. We can’t confirm kasi naka-deploy sila sa different parts of Marawi City. Very surprising yung kanilang movement. Kagabi, naka-block ang mga kalsada (They are about 200 to 300.We can’t confirm because they are deployed in different parts of Marawi City. Their movement was very surprising. The roads were blocked last night),” he said.
Lucman is currently at the Provincial Capitol located in the city.
He said, gunshots were heard in the city until about eight in the morning of Wednesday.
“Me firefight malapit sa gate na kinatatayuan ko,” the vice governor reported.
Lucman, nevertheless, said, the highway leading to Iligan City is still safe.
“Wala namang reported na casualties sa mga nag-e-evacuate (there are no reported casualties among those who are evacuating),” he noted.
Asked if it is true that the Maute group is holding hostage about 15 persons, including a priest, the vice governor said, “yan ang isa sa mga pag-uusapan sa crisis management committee (that is one of the topics were will talk aboutin the crisis management committee).”
