MARAWI, Philippines: After fleeing for their lives nearly a year ago, some residents of the battle-scarred Philippine city of Marawi were allowed back Sunday for the first time – to dig through the rubble that was once their homes. Authorities finally relented as rebuilding plans are moving forward, which will likely result in many of the worst-hit areas being razed. On Sunday some 7,000 residents returned, digging charred furniture and broken toys from the rubble left by the battles that broke out in May 2017. Our bed has turned into ashes.”The battle, which ended in October, was the biggest security crisis under firebrand President Rodrigo Duterte. The threat posed by those bombs as well as memories of their flight, were uppermost in the minds of Sunday’s visitors.

Source: New Strait Times April 01, 2018 12:11 UTC