Bloodstained

The five month battle between the Maute-ISIS group against our country’s cavaliers are now on its
final flames. It was a battle that penetrated the hearts of every Muslim and Christian. Though the
bloody war had left Marawi City in suffocation and depth of devastation –a loud shout revibrated above
the ruins- ‘’Freedom!’

The unforgiving siege started last May 23, where the government troops were pursuing to arrest
the Abu Sayaff leader Isnilon Hapilon. But, an unexpected battle had instead took place. Authorities had
said, that 920 militants, 45 civilians, 165 soldiers and policemen were killed when the merciless war was
unleashed. Fear ignited in Marawi. It had left a city stained with gruesome blood.

The smell of death is terrorizing the place-terrorizing each shivering hiding soul to its extent.

Yet, behind the cries of anguish. Behind the echoes of non-stop crossfire and rumbling of war jets
in the sky is a murmur of hope. A whisper of peace from two different culture. They only want a safety
haven to live. No more wars. No more blood spilled.

And then a beam of hope began to sparkle when the remarkable and praiseworthy success of the
elite force-the gallant Scout Rangers, which had tasted their first urban warfare, marvelously outwitted
the enemy and killed the two notorious leader, Isnilon Hapilon and Omarkhayam Maute on the pre-
dawn of October 16. With that, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte had proudly announced the priceless
liberation of Marawi City.

Following that day, is the breathtaking and heart pounding last stand-42 lifeless body were found at
the two-story building according to the report of the Defense Department and the military. This had
paved a clear portrait to all the country that liberty had been finally bought back to its place-Marawi and
its people.

On the contrary, the victims of this siege still needs a rope of faith to cling on. The estimated value
of restoring the heart of Marawi would be over 1 billion US dollar and which then still-at the end, would
never revive those pitiful lives that were stolen.
 At last, when the Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana proclaimed the Marawi’s total freedom during
the 11th ASEAN DEFENSE MINISTER meeting, everyone rejoiced for the mission of freeing Marawi was
successfully done.

Let us not make our differences of culture and beliefs define us. Instead let us make this differences
us our way to find what we have been longing for to have-peace and unity.

The siege had shape and painted a terrifying history to the people and Marawi itself. The blood of
war would be its mark forever. Stained with cruelty and violence. And yet, through the years, this
bloodstain will surely be the pillar of this once fallen city.