Saripada Pacasum Jr. gagged and turned away the first time he came across a decomposing body in Marawi City, where hundreds have died since Islamic State-inspired fighters attempted to overrun the southern Philippines town six weeks ago.
But the rescue and recovery volunteer had no time to waste as gunfire rang out from government troop positions and militant snipers around him: he put on a pair of rubber gloves and helped carry the remains out of the conflict zone in a pick-up truck.
"I thought of resigning after that," Pacasum, who works in a disaster relief office told Reuters. "I was scared and not prepared for this kind of job."
But Pacasum, 39, continued to lead a team of about 30 young men and women who make near-daily forays to rescue civilians and retrieve victims in an urban battlefield that is infested with rebel snipers and battered by air strikes.
They have come to be known as the "white helmets" or "suicide squad" because of the risks they take when going in unarmed and wearing little protection other than white plastic construction helmets.
More than 460 people have been killed since the battle for Marawi began on May 23, including 82 members of the security forces and 44 civilians.
The military believes hundreds of civilians are still trapped by the conflict, the biggest internal security threat the Philippines has faced in decades and a shock to neighbouring countries worried that Islamic State is trying to establish a foothold in Southeast Asia.
RESCUE MISSION
Fishermen, farmers, students, and small business owners, mostly from Marawi, are among those who have volunteered for rescue missions.
"We all grew up in Marawi and it breaks our hearts when we hear that Marawi is under siege," said Abdul Azis Lomondot Jr., a 25-year-old university student, speaking in the team's one-room office in the town's capitol complex where many of the "white helmets" grab some sleep.
When the team gets a call from a trapped civilian or their evacuated relative, they first try to determine their location. Team leader Pacasum then asks for volunteers.
"We grab our helmets, IDs, a ladder, some small tools and we are good to go," said Lomondot.
One such mission around three weeks into the siege almost went awry when the team drove into the conflict area in pick-up trucks but could not immediately find the house where four elderly people were known to be trapped.
"In that moment, I was panicking because I thought this may be an ambush," Pacasum said as he and Lamondot recalled the mission. "We were just waiting for the sound of gunshots."
After driving around for 20 minutes, the team finally located the house, but was shot at as they drove out with the civilians on board.
"TOO STRESSFUL”
As the siege drags on and the government pours troops into the lakeside town, soldiers have started providing cover for some of the rescue teams’ missions. Pacasum says that while this has obvious advantages, it can also mean they are more likely to be targeted by the militants.
The team has also received counselling and equipment from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and training on how to properly handle cadavers.
Pacasum, who has led more 10 rescue missions, wants to see the battle through to the end, but will consider changing professions when it's over.
"It's too stressful, he said.
"Some of the volunteers ... they are just young kids, they are very aggressive. I'm more cautious. I have kids and I want to watch them grow old."
Reuters
Mon Jul 03 2017
A volunteer rescue team member secures a body on a stretcher into an ambulance after retrieving it in the fighting zone in Marawi city, Philippines June 25, 2017. - REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Beras ditemui di tapak pelupusan sampah tidak selamat dimakan - KPKM
Beras yang didakwa dibuang di tapak pelupusan sampah di Temerloh, Pahang didapati telah rosak dan tidak sesuai serta tidak selamat untuk dimakan.
Boeing hasrat tawarkan kereta terbang di Asia menjelang 2030
Kereta terbang ini dijangka menawarkan penyelesaian untuk pelbagai bandar di Asia yang sering sesak dengan kenderaan.
Piala Thomas: Tze Yong digugurkan, Hon Jian isi kekosongan - Rexy
Ng Tze Yong disahkan tidak akan beraksi pada Piala Thomas 2024 dan kekosongan ditinggalkan naib juara Terbuka Artik 2023 itu akan digantikan dengan pemain beregu, Choong Hon Jian.
Isu surat layang: Mangsa ugutan, gangguan seksual diminta lapor polis
Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri (JKN) Perak meminta mangsa yang mendakwa menerima ugutan serta gangguan seksual yang dikaitkan dengan isu surat layang tular membabitkan kakitangan perubatan Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) supaya membuat laporan polis.
Bekalan Darah: Kadar penderma darah dalam negara masih rendah
Menurut Timbalan Pengarah I, Pusat Darah Negara, Kementerian Kesihatan (KKM), Dr Tun Maizura Mohd Fathullah, kadar tersebut perlu ditingkatkan bagi memastikan bekalan darah mencukupi terutamanya pada waktu-waktu terdesak.
KBS umum syarat pelepasan cukai latihan sukan
Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) mengumumkan syarat-syarat pelepasan cukai bagi latihan sukan pada Jumaat.
Kastam tumpaskan sindiket penyeludupan, temukan dadah bawah pokok
Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia Pulau Pinang menumpaskan cubaan penyeludupan dadah apabila merampas dadah jenis methaphetamine seberat 30 kilogram bernilai hampir RM1 juta.
Pengawal keselamatan didakwa bunuh anak kandung berusia enam bulan
Seorang bapa yang tergamak mendera anak kandungnya yang berusia enam bulan sehingga mengakibatkan mangsa mati didakwa di Mahkamah Bandar Baru Bangi, pada Jumaat kerana kesalahan membunuh.
Perang Iran-Israel, kesan kepada geopolitik Asia Barat
Penyelidik Kanan IRIS Institute, Asyraf Farique memberikan analisis semasa mengenai perang Iran dan Israel serta kesannya kepada geopolitik di Asia Barat.
Batik Air gantung operasi ke Istanbul bermula 1 Mei
Syarikat penerbangan itu berkata keputusan itu dibuat sebagai respons terhadap situasi di Timur Tengah yang memberi kesan kepada laluan penerbangan Batik Air.
Daish: Mahkamah Persekutuan kekal hukuman penjara 10 tahun terhadap bekas penjual cendol
Panel hakim membuat keputusan sebulat suara selepas menolak rayuan akhir Nahzatulazran A. Rahman, 44, terhadap hukuman penjara itu.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
1,000 orang dipindahkan selepas ancaman bom sasar Kompleks Sukan Jamsil, Seoul
Sebanyak 14 kenderaan dan 58 anggota polis dikerah memindahkan kira-kira 1,000 peserta yang sedang membuat persiapan bagi sambutan Seoul Festa.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Israel secara rahsia selaras serangan udara ke atas Syria, elak konflik dengan kempen AS - Laporan
Israel secara rahsia menyelaraskan serangan udara ke atas Syria bersama tentera AS, bertujuan mengelak operasinya bertembung dengan kempen AS menentang kumpulan pengganas Daish.
Ketua PBB prihatin dengan kematian orang awam dalam tindakan AS membunuh pemimpin Daish
Antonio Guterres berkata, siasatan adalah penting dalam kes menentukan pihak yang bertanggungjawab atas kematian akibat serangan.
Serangan bom kereta: 8 maut, 15 cedera termasuk Ahli Parlimen Afghanistan
Menurut pihak berkuasa, serangan turut mencederakan 15 yang lain termasuk Ahli Parlimen, Khan Mohammad Wardak.
6 penguat kuasa undang-undang cedera serangan pengebom bunuh diri di Rusia
Letupan berlaku di luar bangunan Perkhidmatan Keselamatan Persekutuan (FSB)
EU pertimbang langkah baharu tangani ekstremis
Ini susulan siri pembunuhan di Austria dan Perancis dalam beberapa minggu terakhir oleh pengganas yang dikaitkan dengan militan Daish.
UK tingkat tahap ancaman keganasan kedua tertinggi
United Kingdom (UK) meningkatkan tahap ancaman keganasannya pada tahap kedua tertinggi susulan serangan di Austria dan Perancis.