Hundreds of evacuees continue to
be housed for almost five months now in a multi-purpose hall at Balo-i
township, Lanao del Norte province after fleeing the besieged city of
Marawi Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017 in southern Philippines. There was joy
among the evacuees at news of the two Muslim militant leaders Isnilon
Hapilon and Omarkhayam Maute involved in the siege were killed by
Philippine troops Monday. AP Photo/Bullit Marquez
LANAO DEL SUR — Displaced Maranaos started returning on Sunday to
villages in Marawi City that they were forced to abandon on May 23.
Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong of the 24-seat Regional Assembly in the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao told The STAR on Sunday that
authorities have allowed the return of evacuees to areas declared safe
by security advisers, among them bomb disposal experts.
“Residents of Barangay Basak Malutlut started returning to their homes
today, October 29,” said Adiong, spokesman of the Lanao del Sur
provincial crisis management committee.
Marawi City is the political and administrative capital of Lanao del Sur, which has 39 towns.
It was in Barangay Basak Malutlut were government forces and combined
Maute and Abu Sayyaf gunmen first clashed on May 23, sparking a conflict
that lasted until October 23.
“We are thankful to the office of Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra and all
other agencies and cause-oriented groups helping return evacuees to
Marawi City,” Adiong said
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