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As the military carefully goes about what its leadership called its final push to rid Marawi of ISIS-Maute bandits, families are hoping against hope that their loved ones taken hostage in the city are still alive and holding on to survive.
Aileen, a mother of two shared her three-months wait for her husband, in Sandra Aguinaldo's report for "24 Oras" on Thursday.
Her husband Roger was working on a house renovation project as an electrician when the armed conflict between government troops and millitant terrorists started May 23.
Roger never made it out of Marawi City. As a Christian, he and his companions were afraid to set foot in the open.
"Sabi ko na 'hindi na ba talaga kayo makalabas diyan?' sabi niya 'hindi,' kasi 'yung mga ISIS nakapalibot daw sa kanila," Aileen said, referring to the last string of texts she had with him.
He stopped texting on June 1.
Aileen later learned from one of the hostages, who were lucky enough their captors, that Roger had been taken as well. He had a wound on his foot, it was said.
"Kailangan ko talagang umasa... kung hindi ako umasa na buhay siya, baka pati tin ako patay rin," Aileen said, crying.
"'Yun nalang kasi ang pinanghahawakan ko, na kailangan ko paring mabuhay, kasi alam ko buhay pa 'yung asawa ko," she added.
"Kung pwede pa nga lang, pumunta ako ng Marawi, hanapin ko siya doon."
According to Joint Task Force Ranao, the Maute group were keeping at least 56 hostages alive for a reason.
"Gusto po nating ma-preserve 'yung mga buhay ng mga hostages, 'yung mga hostages, ginagamit ng mga Maute terrorist group na mga trabahador nila," said the task group's Deputy Commander Col. Romeo Brawner.
"Inuutusan nilang magluto or maghukay ng mga trenches, sila rin 'yung ginagawang mga runners," he added.
Presumably, Roger, Catholic priest Fr. Teresito “Chito” Suganob and several teachers of Dansalan College were among the survivors.
Aileen said she never stopped believing that she would see Roger again. Money had been scarce in his absence and her young children were starting to look for their father.
"Sana naman huwag siyang mawalan ng pag-asa, naghihintay parin ako sa kanya na sana makauwi siya, sana kumapit lang po sana siya, kumapit siya sa taas," she said.
"Mag-pray siya lagi na sana, magkikita pa kami," she added.
The fighting has reached its 101st day.
According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 617 millitants have been neutralized as of August 29.
Meanwhile, government lost 133 troops along with 46 civilians. —Margaret Claire Layug/NB, GMA News