MARAWI CITY: Camalia Baunto keeps a desperate vigil for news of her husband, trapped just a short walk away in brutal fighting between Islamist militants and government forces that has ruined Marawi City. One of the keys to their survival has been the trapped civilians, who are acting as human shields in stopping the military from completely destroying the small areas controlled by the gunmen. Authorities say anywhere between 300 and 1,700 civilians remain trapped in the militant-held areas. “We thought we were the only ones left trapped. We were like rats hiding under anything we could find.”Camalia Baunto, who has left her six children with her in-laws outside of Marawi, said she was determined to wait for her husband.

Source: Manila Times June 15, 2017 16:30 UTC