Manila: Manila
Military officials expect the civilian death toll to rise as government forces gain access to more areas in Marawi City, where militant resistance was heavy.
“We could see a spike in the number of civilian fatalities once we gain access to more areas,” Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said during the televised daily press briefing on the situation in Marawi City.
Padilla said his basis for saying that was because a huge number of civilians have remained unaccounted for even 51 days after the fighting in the Southern Philippines’ city broke out.
“Three hundred civilians have remained unaccounted for,” he said, adding: “We may get the surprise of our lives and find a number of cadavers.”
Philippine troops clashed yesterday with communist rebels in the south, leaving eight rebels and a soldier dead, officials said.
The fighting erupted after patrolling troops encountered some 40 New People’s Army rebels in southern Compostela Valley province, said army spokesman Capt. Alexandre Cabales.
The guerrillas later fled, leaving behind the bodies of eight rebels and six high-powered guns. A wounded soldier died on the way to a hospital, he said.
Worst war
So far, the number of civilians confirmed killed in the fighting is 39.
The fighting in Marawi City is turning out to be the most bloody so far in the country in recent years in terms of human lives.
Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag said 90 soldiers and policemen have died in the fighting, while the number of terrorists — a combined group of Maute, Abu Sayyaf and foreign volunteer militants — have hit 381.
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, 101,001 families or 471,023 individuals were displaced by the fighting in Marawi City.
The refugees were compelled to stay in 87 evacuation centres across Central Mindanao region.
There had also been reports that a number of refugees have died in the evacuation centres due to medical conditions.
