Classes begun as scheduled today following a gunfight between government troops and suspected terrorists near the Mindanao State University (MSU) campus in Marawi City, according to a report in CNN Philippines.
The gun battle began at 5 am and ended at around 7 am, according to the military. No military, terrorist, or civilian casualties have been reported as of posting time.
The Philippine military and Maute terrorists have been locked in an armed battle for over three months. The fighting has left at least 661 dead, including 502 terrorists, 114 military troops, and 45 civilians.
More than 8,000 students left the MSU campus in Iligan City, a town about two hours away, at around 9:30 am by bus to return to the Marawi campus.
“After a short program, we will immediately start classes,” Jamaloden Basar, MSU Vice President for Administration and Finance, said.
Basar said that while the student population has dropped from 12,000 to its current 8,000 students, he is optimistic though that enrollment will increase again when authorities finally clear Marawi from remaining Maute members.
with reports from ABS-CBN News
