Army honors fallen soldiers on 1st anniversary of Marawi siege

The Army paid tribute to soldiers who died during the siege of Marawi, which started on May 23, 2017. The ceremony took place on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, the first anniversary of the siege, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. (Photo from the Philippine Army)

On Wednesday, the first anniversary of the Marawi siege, the Philippine Army paid tribute to the soldiers who offered their lives during the five-month battle to liberate the city from terrorists.

A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani.

One hundred sixty-eight military troopers and police officers were killed from the fighting with ISIS-inspired terrorists. Over 900 terrorists and 47 civilians were also killed.

The massive bombing of militant-occupied areas wiped out the city, which displaced thousands of residents. It was the biggest security threat to the Philippines, which put to test the military’s abilities in urban warfare.

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, around 230,000 residents remain in shelters a year after the fighting started. /atm