MARAWI CITY – “Ang una po nagpasalamat ako sa Lord, at of course sa GPH-MILF Peace Corridor kasi sila yung naging tulay para maka-labas kami dito. At sila din yung nagbigay samin ng lakas ng loob na umalis dun sa pinagkakataguan namin,” a retrieved civilian expresses his utmost gratitude for being able to safely leave the conflict area.
Earlier today, Peace Corridor volunteers from government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) retrieved 4 more trapped civilians in Bangolo, a conflict area here in the city, making it a total of 221.
The civilians include three Maranaos, and one Christian. They were retrieved in Bangolo area in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines units under Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez, Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.
The civilians have been trapped at Brgy. Moncado Colony since the start of the conflict.
‘Tulungan talaga’
He recounted that he was informed that a Christian colleague was still inside the city jail where they work, the day after the clash erupted, “May nakapag sabi sa amin na nasa city jail pa siya. Noong makuha ko siya, nagpunta kami agad sa bahay kung saan kami nagtago,” he said.
He added that if they were not able to bring with them their Christian colleague, he might have not survive being trapped, “So tulungan talaga,” he said.
On the last week of May, MILF Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim with the help of Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Jesus G. Dureza met personally with President Roridgo Duterte to discuss the concept of Peace Corridor.
The Peace Corridor was established in the three-kilometer Banggulo Bridge to the Quezon Avenue to allow retrieval operations. It was a product of a strong partnership between the government and the MILF.
