Marawi City residents start to evacuate amid clashes

Residents of Marawi City started to evacuate on Wednesday following the clashes between government troops and the Maute Group in the area.

According to a report by Jun Veneracion on Balitanghali, people have started to flee to Iligan City, Saguiaran in Lanao del Sur, and other nearby areas.

@Benjielite Mga residente, siksikan sa mga sasakyan para lamang makalikas sa Marawi. | via @Benjielite pic.twitter.com/Tfz0L1ohHu

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 24, 2017

@Benjielite Kanya-kanyang mga bitbit ang mga residente sa kanilang paglikas sa Marawi City | via @Benjielite pic.twitter.com/5XEjtYMoaO

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 24, 2017

Authorities have also intensified checkpoints in the area.

Meanwhile, patients of Amai Pakpak Medical Center were asked to leave as armed men attempted to occupy the facility.

"Ni-lock namin yung room namin sa surgery ward kaya nando'n na kami sa loob, kaya ayun natakot kami ba," said Emma Caticlan Bashier, relative of a patient in the medical center.

"Okay lang daw makauwi basta...wala na yung gulo pwede daw kami bumalik dito. May binigay silang papers sa amin," she added.

Some families had no choice but to set out using boats due to the closure of some national roads.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Edgar Arevalo urged the public to refrain from posting information on social media that would aggravate the situation.

"We fervently urge our people to refrain from posting in social media information that would tend exacerbate the situation. Especially photos and videos on the movements of our troops and on terrorist propaganda circulating through social media," Arevalo said in a statement.

"We will continue to provide updates as often as possible with due regard to the security of our operating forces and the conduct of the operations itself," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire island of Mindanao under Martial Law on Tuesday night. — Marlly Rome Bondoc/BM, GMA News