As Muslims pray, bombs rain in war zone

June 14, 2017

MARAWI CITY -- Bombs fell anew Wednesday on militants occupying strategic areas inside this city despite noontime prayers from Muslim believers as part of a month-long fasting. During Duhur, the noontime prayer of Muslims, two FA-50 jets dropped at least six rounds of 500-pound bombs in areas where Maute and Abu Sayyaf were hiding. Camalia Baunto, 42, a resident of West Marinaut here, told reporters her husband, Nixon, 42, who was trapped since the start of the violence at their house on May 23, decided to leave the war zone but air strikes and artillery from the military led him to stay along with eight civilians. Baunto said her husband was separated from them after he decided to return from Iligan to secure and lock their home. Baunto said Her husband tried to cross from the battle zone three days ago but sniper fires hit two women companions. "It was only today I was able to speak with him. There were children in our house, wounded women. I hope they can get out," she said. Aida Ayunan, 37, mother to five children at the Saguiran evacuation center, said their house including a mosque in Banggolo were burned and destroyed by bombs. "We will rebuild what we lost but we want the president to stop the bombing," she said. The military said soldiers took down snipers and machine-gun nests. "As long as they are using it  these are target opportunities in order to save lives And in order to protect our troops," Lt Col. Jo-ar Herrera, spokesman of the 1 st Infantry Division, said. DMS