VOLUNTEERS from the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front retrieved four more civilians trapped in war-torn Marawi city, bringing the total to 221.
The civilians include three Maranaos, and a Christian. They were retrieved in the Bangolo area in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines units under Gen. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Western Mindanao Command.
The civilians had been trapped in Bgy. Moncado Colony in Marawi City since the start of the conflict.
In late May, MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim met with President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss a “peace corridor” in which MILF members could help the government rescue civilians trapped in the Marawi City fighting.
The President approved the proposal, and the peace corridor was established in the three-kilometer Banggulo Bridge to Quezon Avenue in Marawi City to allow for rescue and relief operations.
Despite the difficulties of bringing the trapped civilians to a safer place, the Joint Coordination,
Monitoring and Assistance Center has been able to rescue 179 trapped women, men, children and elderly during its first attempt on June 4.
On its second attempt on Thursday, it was able to bring 38 more civilians to safety—making it a total of 217 saved people.