Supreme Court honors casualties of Marawi battle

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has ordered the flying at half-staff of the national flag in all courts in the country to honor the dead in the three-week old fighting between government troops and Islamist terrorists in Marawi City. INQUIRER FILE / EDWIN BACASMAS

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has ordered the Philippine flag flown at half-staff in all courts nationwide to honor the soldiers, policemen and civilians who have died in Marawi City.

The flag will be at half-staff from Tuesday to Friday (June 16, 2017).

“In solidarity with the families of all Filipinos who have been killed in the current situation in Marawi City, the Chief Justice has directed that the Philippine Flag shall be flown at half-staff in all courts nationwide,” the Supreme Court said in a statement Tuesday.

“The colors of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, and Court of Tax Appeals shall also be flown at half-staff for the same duration,” the high court’s Public Information Office added.

As of this posting, 58 soldiers and policemen have been killed and 120 wounded in the fighting that is entering its fourth week. The terrorist Maute group has reportedly suffered 191 deaths.

Thirteen of the recent losses were Marines killed in a major engagement that lasted for about 14 hours in Barangay Lilot Madaya in Marawi City Friday. CBB/rga