42 school employees missing in Marawi

LANAO DEL SUR — Authorities are scrambling to locate 42 Visayan residents in Marawi City reported as missing only late Friday.

Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said he has received reports about the 42 missing individuals, now subject of a search by rescue and relief teams of the ARMM government.

Relatives reportedly first sought help from the military and police, but got negative response.

"But we did not get an action from the police and the military," said a relative, who requested anonymity.

The missing persons are teachers and maintenance workers at the Dansalan College in Marawi City, which Maute torched on Tuesday night.

Reporters learned of their plight from a certain Jun Endino, who also works in the same school.

Endino said a Maranaw state prosecutor volunteered to provide sanctuary to them but lost contact when Maute gunmen showed force around the area.

Endino said the Maranaw official lost contact with the group when soldiers prevented him from returning to the building bringing along food and bottled water for the 42 Visayans.

ARMM rescue workers are also still searching for missing priest Teresito Suganob, a volunteer lay worker named Ma. Luisa Colina and 13 others who are also missing since Tuesday.

They were abducted by Maute gunmen who stormed on Thursday afternoon the St. Mary’s Church in Marawi City amid firefights in barangays in the surroundings of the worship site.