Gov’t forces casualities in Marawi City battle rose to 168

January 10, 2018

The number of soldiers and policemen who died in the Marawi City battles last year has increased to 168, a military official confirmed on Wednesday.

Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of Joint Task Force Ranao, said two wounded soldiers died on November last year.

Brawner said the total number of fatalities includes a soldier identified as Private Alejandro Balean who was initially declared missing.

Capt. Maria Rowena Dalmacio said Balean was “reported missing in action last June 9, 2017 in the vicinity of Mapandi Bridge, Brgy Daguduban, Marawi City.”

“Accounts from the survivors said that Pvt Balean fell into the Agus River while their platoon was maneuvering against the enemy. Attempts by his colleagues to fetch him out of the water proved futile against the strong current and hail of gun fires,” she said.

Dalmacio said the cadaver of Balean was recovered at the vicinity of Brgy Rurog Agus, Marawi City on August 3, 2017 but it was not yet identified as it was in a decomposing stage.

The identity of his cadaver was confirmed after the DNA test result was released last December 4, 2017.

Dalmacio said the Philippine Marine Corps rendered military honors for Balean at around 8 am Wednesday. Robina Asido/DMS