Philippines: Kidnapped priest rescued by army

Fr Chito pictured last Christmas

Source: Fides

Fr Teresito Suganob, (Fr Chito) vicar of the Apostolic Prelature of Marawi who was kidnapped by Islamic militants more three months was rescued over the weekend. Announcing the news, Bishop Edwin De La Pena of Marawi said: "We are happy for the release of Fr Chito. We thank the Lord and all those who in the world prayed for his release. We praise the efforts of the Filipino army who are doing their utmost to protect the lives of the hostages."

Fr Chito was released between Saturday 16 and Sunday, September 17, together with another hostage, thanks to an action by the military involved in the siege of Marawi which has been occuppied by a Maute militant group since 23 May.

The Filipino Catholic community is celebrating the return of the popular priest. Satisfaction is also being expressed by Islamic leaders and communities on the island of Mindanao. Fr Chito was rescued by government forces after the army regained the mosque of Bato, one of the strongholds of the Maute group in the city centre. Military sources report that as the army advanced, the terrorists abandoned the hostages.

The Philippine army is sending more soldiers to Marawi for the last stage of the siege and is calling on the jihadists to surrender. It is estimated that there are about remaining combatants in the centre of Marawi with about 40 hostages.

More than 860 people have died in the conflict, among them 660 militants and 147 soldiers. The city has been badly damaged by the urban war and bombings. According to government estimates, more than $50 billion will be needed to rebuild Marawi. Most of the city's 200,000 people are Muslim. They are currently all displaced in the surrounding areas.

See earlier report - ICN 24 May 2017 Philippines: Cathedral torched, priest, parishioners taken hostagewww.indcatholicnews.com/news/32661