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BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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Thursday, June 29, 2017
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ILOILO City – From Marawi City 179 Maranaos displaced in the armed conflict between government troops and the Maute terrorist group found refuge in the Western Visayas provinces of Aklan, Capiz and Iloilo.
According to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), 133 Maranaos fled to Aklan, 38 to Capiz and eight to the town of Sara, Iloilo.
The number of refugees would likely increase once those who have sought refuge in Iloilo City have been fully accounted.
Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, PRO-6 spokesperson, said there were around 20 Maranao families that recently arrived in the city and verification was ongoing.
In Aklan, the Maranaos were in the towns of Malay (including Boracay Island, 80), Ibajay (19) and Kalibo (34).
In Capiz, the refugees were in Roxas City (17) and Sapian town (21), said Gorero.
In Sara, Iloilo a Maranao family of eight members were living with Muslim relatives in Barangay Poblacion Ilaya, said Chief Inspector Ronnie Brillo, municipal police chief.
Meanwhile, Jerry Macala, spokesperson of the Muslim community in Iloilo City, identified three Maranao families that have reached the city.
He said the Dumato and Bansara families were staying in an apartment in Barangay Burgos, La Paz district while the Tawagun family in Barangay San Juan, Molo district.
According to Macala, these families were simply returning to Iloilo City where they have been doing business for years.
They moved back to Marawi City but had to return to Iloilo City due to the ongoing conflict in the Mindanao city, said Macala.
“We urge the public not to panic. These Maanao families are evacuees and not Maute group members. Western Visayas is Maute-free. There’s nothing to worry about,” said Gorero.
According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines yesterday, at least 27 civilians and 71 government troops have died since the Marawi clashes erupted.
On the other hand, 299 terrorists have been killed while a total of 1,711 civilians were rescued.
The conflict in Marawi City started when government security forces attempted to arrest Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon, the ISIS “Emir” in Southeast Asia, on May 23.
As of this writing, the number of firearms recovered from the terrorists was at 347, and the remaining hostages between 150 to 200./PN
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