MARAWI, THE END OF A WAR

The battle between the Philippine government security forces and affiliated
militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, including the Maute and Abu
Sayyaf Salafi jihadist groups in Marawi, Lanao del Sur has become one of the
greatest conflict in the Philippines today and it is still going on now for at least 3
months, 3 weeks and 5 days (118 days) but according to the Philippine
government, the war between the Philippine security forces and the terrorists is
about to end for the government forces progressively show signs that they are in
control of the situation.

The war in Marawi City started when the Philippine government received
reports that Isnilon Hapilon, leader of the ISIL-affiliated Abu Sayyaf group, was
in the City and they launched an operation to capture him which resulted into
the deadly firefight between Hapilon's forces together with the Maute group and
the combined Army and police teams.

Maute group Militants attacked Camp Ranao and taken several structures in
the city, including the Marawi City Hall, Mindanao State University, a hospital and
the city jail. They also took the main street and set fire to Saint Mary's Cathedral,
Ninoy Aquino School and Dansalan College, run by the United Church of Christ in
the Philippines.

During the siege in Marawi many casualties had been reported: 668 foreign
militants, 149 government forces, and 87 civilians were killed. 11 militants were
captured. 60 government forces are missing and about 1,400 government forces
were wounded.

But during this few months we can see progress on the fight between the
Philippine government and the terrorists. According to the Philippine forces, only
few terrorists are now remaining and some of them surrendered. The parents of the
Maute brothers were also captured and the Maute group now only holds small parts
of Marawi and because of this event we can say that the crisis on Marawi, Lanao
del Sur will finally come to an end. We just only need to trust god and never lose
hope and we will achieve the peace that we want for our country.