Retired policeman Jaime Mayormita recounts the terrifying ordeal that happened when he tried calling his wife, Wendelyn, and a terrorist was the one who answered her phone.
"Nalaman ko na tinangay siya nangiba na ang sumasagot sa cellphone"
During a phone interview, Mayormita shared that he was at a police headquarters when the attack happened, with the Maute forces burning several buildings and fought with forces of the Philippine military.
He added that he was texting his 45-year-old wife who was at St. Mary's Cathedral, preparing food for the feast day of the Blessed Virgin. He went on to say that he received constant updates from his wife regarding her condition.
Mayormita shares, "Panay ang text namin, panay ang tawag namin para ma-monitor ang isa't isa, malayo kasi kami. Nalaman ko na tinangay siya nang iba na ang sumasagot sa cellphone."
"Hinihingi nila na sana hindi makalapit ang military," he adds.
The parish priest was taken along with 14 other civilians
However, as the military advanced towards the terrorists, members of the Maute group burned the cathedral and then fled, taking Mayormita's wife, Fr. Chito Suganob the parish priest, 2 working students and 12 more civilians.
Mayormita added that has no way of contacting his wife, and is unaware of her whereabouts.
"Sana pakawalan na nila, makalaya ang mga inosenteng tao kagaya na lang ni Fr. Chito at iyung asawa ko saka mga kasamahan nila -- mga inosente kasi ito," he pleads.
He mentioned that his wife was also suffering from a heart condition and did not have medicine with her when she was abducted.
Currently, government forces are still clashing with the extremist group, while the president has already declared martial law throughout Mindanao and is also considering extending martial law throughout the country if he sees that the terrorist forces have also invaded Visayas and Luzon.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
READ: 6 Facts parents need to know about Martial Law in Mindanao
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