More than 200 hostages, many of whom are Christians, were held by militants and forced to construct improvised explosive devices, as well as scavenge for food and weapons. Some were press-ganged into fighting for Islamist rebels. At the time of writing, government forces are expecting to retake Marawi shortly, after four months of fighting. One escaped hostage recalled how the jihadists – excited by their ‘success’ in Marawi – openly discussed possible other targets, including the Philippines’ capital, Manila.