Manila: The armed forces said it will allow residents of seven villages in Marawi City to return to their homes as classes at Mindanao State University (MSU) are poised to resume.

Lt Col Emmanuel Garcia, spokesman of the Joint Task Force Marawi, said classes will resume on August 22 at MSU and residents of seven villages near it would be allowed to return home.

MSU is the premier tertiary level learning institution in the region. When fighting broke out between government forces and the Maute-Abu Sayyaf alliance on May 23, the school became a part of the battle ground. Fortunately, much of MSU’s facilities were spared.

Garcia said the MSU is not only considered a landmark in the city but serves as a beacon, being a learning institution. He said while taking control of the university had been a challenge for security forces, the importance of regaining control of the school touches the heart of residents and sends a message that the government will do whatever it can to bring back normality.

Dr Florencio Recoleto, vice-chancellor for academic affairs, said the reason MSU remains standing is “because it is shining hope and inspiration to the Maranaos, to the entire Moro people and to our Christian brothers and sisters alike”.

He said MSU provides quality education to marginalised students across the country, especially scholars from Visayas, Mindanao and Palawan.

Meanwhile, the presidential palace said it welcomes the move of Ulamas and all local chief executives of Lanao del Sur to sign a covenant condemning violent extremism through a fatwa.

“This supports the declaration of war against the Daesh-inspired Maute terror group of all 41 Mayors in Lanao del Sur through a manifesto signed on the 12 of August 2017,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said during Mindanao Hour’s press briefing on Friday, August 18.

“The 40 towns and one city of the province shall strengthen the civilian security plan of barangays [villages], mobilising religious leaders with the said declaration,” he added.

“We assure the affected population and sectors that their needs shall be addressed in keeping with the fundamental principle of Civil Defence and Disaster Management on inclusivity, engaging the whole of Filipino society,” Abella stressed.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig Gen Restituto Padilla Jr., said similar fatwas rejecting violent extremism issued by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Milf) and the Grand Mufti of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Darul Ifta earlier, are “very critical ingredients in our programme to fight and prevent the spread of violent extremism and radicalism”.

Padilla added the main battle area in Marawi City has been reduced to just over half a kilometre grid square.

“The world of the enemy is getting smaller,” Padilla said, adding militants’ numbers remain at about 50 to 60 while hostages are estimated at more than 30.