Marawi resident finds home looted of cash, jewelry

A resident of Marawi City was heartbroken when she found her house in Barangay Bangon was ransacked, according to the "24 Oras" report by GMA News' Bam Alegre on Thursday.

Saripa Sultan found their vault containing P3 million in cash, the shelves in her sari-sari store, and a piggy bank for 10-peso coins were empty. Jewelry worth about P200,000 were also stolen.

Sultan's sister, Namraida Lomondot, believed somebody had been living in their home in the six months they were away.

Lomondot found a pair of pants and other belongings they have never seen before.

The house owners burned the items that they believed were left behind by terrorists.

"Susunugin namin. Baka balikan kami ng mga ISIS. Para wala na sila. Wala kaming kinalaman diyan sa mga ISIS. Tignan mo 'yung tirahan namin. Wala, walang laman," Lomondot said.

Joint Task Force Ranao deputy commander Colonel Romeo Brawner said, "It only goes to show na talagang nag-loot sila dito sa Marawi City dahil alam nila kung saan 'yung mga baril, mga bala, mga gold at mga pera dito sa Marawi."

"In fact, nag-loot sila hindi lang mga bahay pati sa mga bangko ay kinunan nila ng mga pera," he added.

The residents were allowed to return to Marawi to clean up their homes. they are not allowed to sleep in the houses as the military continue to conduct clearing operations.

On Wednesday, soldiers recovered another 27 corpses of suspected Maute members from the deep parts of the main battle area.

About P800,000 worth of looted cash, camera lenses and appliances were also retrieved in the operations. — Margaret Claire Layug/ BAP, GMA News