Philippines: Christian hostages "will be human shields"

IS style flag in Marawi City

Source: Fides/Philippines Bishops Conference

A bishop in the Philippines fears that the Christian hostages abducted in Mindanao last week will be used as humand shields.

Bishop Edwin de la Pena, who heads the territorial prelature of Marawi city, on the southern island of Mindanao said: "There are no negotiations.

"The army is engaged in door-to-door combat to regain the city of Marawi. And military leaders say they do not intend to negotiate with terrorists.

"We are seriously concerned about Fr Chito, Fr Suganob, and the other 15 hostages taken by terrorists. We do not know where they are. I do not think the kidnappers want money, but they intend to use them to save their lives. I fear they will use them as human shields."

Maute Islamic militants broke into the cathedral and kidnapped the priests and faithful gathered in prayer on 24 May, before setting fire to the building.

Bishop Edwin said nine Catholics were also stopped, tied and then killed at the gates of the city. "They are violent extremists, we do not know what they have in mind. We are in God's hands," he said.

More than 500 terrorists who entered the city have hoisted black flags of the Islamic State, burned two schools and released prisoners from the local jail. They have broken into houses, while the Philippine army has begun to lay siege to free the city.

Most of the population has been evacuated but some families have locked themselves in their homes.

Meanwhile, the entire Catholic Catholic community has launched a prayer campaign for the release of the hostages.

Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, Archbishop of Cotabato, another city on the island of Mindanao, said: "Let us pray for the salvation of the hostages. We appeal to the kidnappers' conscience not to kill innocent people," he said, also asking for the help of Muslim leaders in Mindanao to try to solve the crisis of the hostages peacefully.

The Cardinal of Manila, Luis Antonio Tagle, has expressed solidarity with the people of Marawi: "There are no words to express the pain and bitterness we feel. Why hurt innocents? We are very worried," he said.

The entire Philippine Church has launched the PrayforMarawi appeal on social media.

In the meantime the Martial Law proclaimed by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte remains in force on the island of Mindanao, which gives special powers to the armed forces to maintain political and social order.

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ICN 24 May 2017 - Philippines: Cathedral torched, priest, parishioners taken hostage www.indcatholicnews.com/news/32661