Residents swim Agos River to escape Marawi fighting

Some five residents swam across the Agos River to escape the heavy fighting in Marawi City. There were 17 of them when they first started out.

Rey Saropio told GMA 7 news program "24 Oras" on Tuesday that, of the 17, six were separated from the group, five were killed by sniper fire, and one drowned in the swift-flowing river.

"'Yung lima sigurado akong namatay kasi natamaan silA," recounted Saropio. "Nakita kong tinamaan, tinulungan pa 'yung kapatid ko, dinala namin sa kili-kili. Tapos sabi niya, masakit na raw 'yung ulo niya. Dito 'yung sugat niya, hanggang dito."

Rolly Ruiz, meanwhile, shared how they had second thoughts about swimming across the river.

"Oo, nagdalawang-isip, kaya matagal... alas-otso [ng gabi] kami nandon sa Agos. Nakatalon kami mga alas-tres o alas kuwatro. Balik-balik pagisip na tatalon ka ba o hindi dahil sa sobrang lakas," Ruiz said.

However, they concluded that swimming the river was the lesser of the two dangers. "Nasa tubig ka, may chance ka pang mabuhay. 'Pag doon, nagpaiwan ka, siguradong mamatay ka rin," he explained.

Ruiz also thanked his employer, a Muslim, who helped them escape. He and his companions were all Christians.

"Sobrang bilib namin sa kanya. Kasi di niya kami iniwan. Kasi siya ang nagsagip sa buhay namin eh," he said tearfully.

Appeal

Meanwhile, an unidentified woman appealed for help at the Lanao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council because her husband and 36 other people were still in Marawi City.

"Hindi pa rin po ba nakapasok 'yan, Sir? Kasi... sabi ko, lumabas na lang kayo. Kung hindi lumangoy kayo sa lake. Sabi niya sa akin, 'lalangoy na lang ako sa lake.' Sabi ko kung kaya mo, languyin mo. Sabi niya, makikita ko pa kasi 'yung kuwan daw ng sniper," the woman said.

"'Yun ang problema, eh," PDRRMC - Lanao del Sur head Tong Padasum admitted, but added that he would speak with the military and see what action could be taken.

The woman also said that a four-year-old was also among those trapped in Marawi. "'Yung bata hinihimatay na daw, pinagtutulungan nilang... nire-rescue na lang nila, tinutulungan nilang ma-revive 'yung bata," she said. — Anna Felicia Bajo/DVM, GMA New