Navy presents 3 Marawi escapees to media in Zambo City 

The three construction workers from Zamboanga who escaped from their Maute captors in Marawi City on August 4, were presented to the media on Sunday.

GMA News reported that the three Zamboangueños were presented in the morning to members of the press by Naval Forces Western Mindanao Rear Admiral Rene Medina at the Western Mindanao Command Headquarters in barangay Calarian in Zamboanga City. 

Medina identified that three as Rumar Marjalino, his brother Roel, and Jimmy Esperat, who were accompanied by their respective families.

Rumar recounted that at the beginning of the Marawi City siege last May 23, they were already held captive by the ISIS-influenced Maute terrorists.

According to him, since day one of their captivity they had been made to cook for their captors.

There were times when they were made to wear black shirts, Rumar said, adding that many times, too, they had planned to escape but were held back by fear the military would mistake them for Maute members.

They got a perfect chance after his wife was able to contact a Navy intelligence officer, he said.

In the escape plan, they were told by the Navy intelligence officer to wear white shirt.

Aside from the three Zamboangueños, construction worker Delfin Lapaz from Iligan City was also able to escape.

"Matagal ako nagplano kung papaano kami makatakas tumakas. Sa tulong ng isang Navy intelligence nag-kabuo kami ng plano. Mabuti na lang hindi kami nakita ng mga Maute. Lumangoy po kami mga 1,000 meters sa Lake Lanao upang makatakas," Rumar said. —LBG, GMA News