MARAWI, KOMPAS — Entering the 48th day of the siege of Marawi by the Philippine Armed Forces on Sunday, the battle continues. Cross fire and bombings by the Philippine military against the Maute group militants, who have occupied Marawi since May 23, take place almost every day.
Kompas journalists B Josie Susilo Hardiantoand Harry Susilo from Marawi, Mindanao, South Philippines, report that from the morning through to the evening, the Bronco OV-10 aircraft, fighter helicopter and FA-50 fighter jets drop bombs on Maute strongholds.
The attacks follow the land attacks on the midnight of Saturday. At around 30 minutes past midnight, the sound of bombs and grenades repeated. Amid the sound of bomb explosions were the voices of machine guns and combat rifles.
The attacks made the dark sky turned reddish. In several spots in the city flames lit up and the projectiles made lines of fire. The sounds of bombs and rifles were heard until Sunday morning. “Our soldiers keep pressing the Maute militants,” a soldier said.
In the morning, the pressure was heightened by an air attack. Every time the aircraft maneuvered into the sky, hundreds of refugees at the office of governor Lanao del Sur in Marawi quickly went out to photograph the event. “We want the Maute to be defeated soon,” said a resident.
No agreement
He added that residents did not agree with the Maute militants. The armed resistance of the Maute militants had destroyed Marawi and forced residents to flee.
“Moreover, many people have fallen victim and parents have lost their children. That is not Islam,” said a resident who wanted to remain anonymous.
The destruction is massive. Every time a bomb is dropped, many materials blow up into the sky. Fire burns.
“We lost everything and we do not know what the militants want. We are Muslim and many of our family members are victims,” the resident added.
Marawi is now a ghost city. The streets are quiet and the houses and shops are not occupied. The condition in Marawi affects the surrounding area.
The neighborhood is quiet because most of the residents have taken refuge.
Now, many of the refugees, mostly those who stay at refugee camps, rely on assistance from the government and other organizations.
Those living at their relatives’ houses are no better.
Each room is packed with at least two people. “We did not bring anything,” said another Marawi resident.
Even though Philippine soldiers have strengthened their pressure, the residents have no idea when the crisis will end.
“Some say it will end within a week. But we do not believe it,” said Abdul Malik, a Marawi resident at a refugee camp.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said last month he would crush the militant group as soon as possible. However, several deadlines set to end the conflict that has forced around 400,000 people to take refugee have been breached.
Philippines military spokesperson Lt. Col. Jo Er Herrera, in a press statement earlier, said the battle had resulted in the deaths of 366 militants, 39 civilians and 87 personnel from government forces.