THE residents of Marawi City have not yet been cleared to return to their war-ravaged homes, the military said Monday even “transitional shelters” are being planned for them instead of the “tent cities” as earlier planned.
Military spokesman Restituto Padilla said those allowed to return to their homes were the residents of the municipalities outside Marawi or those within the vicinity of Lake Lanao.
“We would like to correct recent news regarding the return of IDPs [internally displaced people] to their areas, and we would like to set the record straight that current plans to allow the return of residents to their places of residence applies to IDPs who are residents outside the City of Marawi,” Padilla told reporters in Malacañang.
He made his statement even as Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Monday the number of Maute group members left in Marawi City was down to 30 to 40 fighters as government forces continued to track them down.
“They are just a handful. I think they are down to only 30 to 40 fighters but don’t discount them as these are good fighters and we are still taking casualties,” Lorenzana said.
“In fact, we had one killed and nine wounded some three days ago and yesterday. Clearing operations are still ongoing.”
The displaced residents of Marawi City who may want to stay with their relatives in the municipalities along Lake Lanao could do so, Padilla said.
But he said they must register with the municipality for accounting purposes and distribution of relief goods.
The three-month siege in Marawi has displaced, more than 104,000 families who now live in more than 70 evacuation centers all over Marawi.
Transitional shelters and not tent cities will be built for residents affected by the ongoing siege.
Padilla said a resident who returned to Marawi was hurt after being hit by a stray bullet.
Office of Civil Defense Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima said they had yet to build shelters since government agencies like the National Housing Authority must first decide where those should be built.
He said his office was coordinating with the displaced residents of Marawi and asking them whether they preferred to live in tents or in transitional shelters.
But Padilla said the priority was still the clearing of Marawi City and other affected localities of unexploded ordnance before the government could start a full-blown recovery and rehabilitation.
Some 40 to 60 terrorists are believed to be holding 80 to 100 hostages, Padilla said. With PNA