Bodies of civilians dumped near Marawi
MANILA: Bodies of what appeared to be executed civilians were found in a ravine outside a besieged Philippine city yesterday as a six-day occupation by rebels resisting a military onslaught took a more sinister turn.
The eight dead men, most of them shot in the head and some with hands tied behind their backs, were labourers who were stopped by Islamic State (IS)-linked militants on the outskirts of Marawi while trying to flee clashes, according to police.
Nine spent bullet casings were found on a blood-stained patch of road at the top of the ravine.
Attached to one of the bodies was a sign that said “munafik” (traitor).
The discovery confirms days of speculation that Maute rebels had killed civilians during a bloody takeover of Marawi that the military believes is aimed at winning the Maute recognition from IS in the Middle East as a Southeast Asian affiliate.
The army deployed additional ground troops over the weekend and dispatched helicopters to carry out rocket strikes on Maute positions as fighters held buildings and a bridge deep inside the predominantly Muslim city where few civilians remained.
Some of those trapped in Marawi had called and text-messaged a hotline pleading with the military to stop the air strikes, according to Zia Alonto Adiong, a local politician coordinating complex efforts to evacuate civilians, dead and alive.
At least 61 militants and 15 soldiers were killed as of Saturday, while thousands have been displaced.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte has appealed to Muslim separatists and Maoist-led rebels to join his government’s fight against Islamic State-linked militants.
He said the idea had come from the leader of one of the separatist groups.
“If this drags on, and you want to join, take your chance with the Republic,” Duterte said.
There were no immediate reactions from leaders of the groups to Duterte’s offer. – Reuters