How Muslims protected their Christian neighbors in Marawi escape

Amid the horror of the terrorist siege in Marawi City, triumphs of the human spirit still shone through in the tales of some survivors.

In a report by Saleema Refran on "24 Oras" on Thursday, Sadang Macabando, a former chief watchman of Brgy. Marinaut East, recalled how he and 80 of his neighbors, both Muslim and Christian, managed to escape the city.

When faced with members of the Maute group at a checkpoint, Macabando and his fellow Muslims unhesitatingly put their lives on the line in an effort to shield the Christians in their group.

"Yung Muslim na babae, akbayan niya yung lalaking Christian. Yun namang Christian na lalaki, akbayan yung Muslim na babae. Kung magtatanong sila kung Muslim ka, mag-Takbir ka," he said, referring to a Muslim saying that apparently proved their faith.

"Sabay-sabay tayong ta-Takbir, Allahu Akbar," Macabando further recalled from an evacuation center in Iligan City.

Despite their safety, many of their neighbors remain stuck in the conflict between government forces and the Maute group that has desolated Marawi City.

Through stress debriefing sessions at evacuation centers, refugees including Sohaila Renandang pleaded to both groups to cease the gunfire, airstrikes, and violence that may leave them with no home to return to.

"Gusto naming iparating sa aming mahal na pangulo na sana matigil na yung putukan sa Marawi kasi gusto na naming umuwi sa amin. At tsaka walang kasiguraduhan kung may mauuwian pa kami dung mga bahay," Renandang said. —Rie Takumi/JST, GMA News