While most of us were celebrating Independence Day last Monday and enjoying the long weekend, the struggle in Marawi did not let up. Over the past few days, distressing reports of our marines being killed, of trapped civilians dying of hunger, and of a young boy shot dead by a sniper ran in the news, underscoring the gravity of the situation in the southern city under siege. The death toll, as of Monday’s noontime salute to the “Heroes of Marawi,” includes 58 servicemen, all killed in action from May 23 to June 9. And while we in other parts of the country might easily feel like everything is fine, given our comfortable distance from it all, reality paints a different picture.

Fortunately, a few brave men and women are on the ground to paint that picture for us, and give us an intimate, if difficult look at the situation. Have a look at these dispatches from photojournalists in Marawi—whose images are poignant reflections of what’s really happening in the most embattled corner of our country right now.

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Carlo Gabuco

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Luis Liwanag

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Jess Aznar

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Linus Escandor

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Ted Aljibe

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Romeo Ranoco

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Quite a few news reporters in Marawi have also been posting their views from the ground:

Jeff Canoy

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Raffy Tima

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Chiara Zambrano