A week after his abduction by Islamic militants in Marawi City, a video of Fr. Teresito Suganob surfaced on Facebook early this week appealing for President Duterte’s help.
The priest said the militants are demanding a stop to the military offensive against them and for the sake of the “prisoners of war”.
“Mr. President, please consider us,” Suganob said in a cracking voice. “They don’t ask for anything… they just ask that you leave this place peacefully.”
“We are in the midst of this war, we are asking your help to please give what they are asking for,” he added.
Duterte declared martial law in the south through mid-July. Duterte’s declaration unnerved Filipinos who lived through the rule of late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, who imposed martial law in 1972 and used it to hold power for more than a decade.
The vicar general of the Marawi prelature said that along with Suganob are about 240 more hostages, including several women and children. It’s uncertain when the video was taken, but it shows Suganob standing in the midst of destroyed houses and vehicles. The video, showing Suganob in a black polo shirt and maong pants, first surfaced on the Facebook account of a certain “Datumasa Khalid”.
“Mr. President, if you want me to kneel before you just to knock your heart in favor of our families who are crying out there in different places, for our relatives…. we will do that,” he said.
He also warned that the relentless military offensive would just put the lives of the hostages at risk because the militants are “ready to die for their religion”.
“Mr. President, you can’t use force and violence, because they have the commitment they will die for this,” he added, as the military’s fight against members of the Maute group entered the seventh day.
Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Peña earlier said the militants who are allegedly linked to the Islamic State (IS) have threatened to kill their hostages if the military offensive against them continues.
The prelate said he received a call last Tuesday from a supposed Maute militant and demanded for a “unilateral ceasefire”.
“They want a ceasefire and for the military to give them access out of Marawi. Otherwise, they will kill the hostages,” de la Peña said.
A colleague of Suganob confirmed to The Associated Press that the man in the video is the priest. It was not clear whether Suganob believed what he was saying or was forced to say it.
“We want to live another day, we want to live another month,” Suganob added.
Directing his remarks to Duterte, he said, “We want to live few years and in your generosity, Mr. President, in your heart, we know you can make something [happen].” Marawi Bishop de la Peña confirmed that it was Suganob in the video.
“I was glad to see that he is alive, but we were also saddened because the fact that the terrorists are ready to negotiate means they are pressed against the wall, and they are also desirous to get away from the situation, and their bargaining chip are the hostages,” he said in a telephone interview.
“It was taken in Marawi, and it was him [Suganob], and the emotions that came out, I think, were really authentic,” he added, noting that Suganob looked truly afraid when an explosion was heard in the background.
He said Suganob’s mention of people with him made it appear that they are also alive.
“It gives us a lot of hope that these people are worth saving, because they are still alive,” he added. “If the air strikes continue, they will really be in danger.”
Suganob said in the video that he was taken prisoner along with a professor from Mindanao State University, two female church workers and seven teachers.
“Along with us are about 200 carpenters, household helpers, children and youth and ordinary Christian settlers,” he said. The presence of that number of hostages could not be independently confirmed.
The siege in Marawi followed an unsuccessful army raid last Tuesday that attempted to capture militant commander Isnilon Hapilon, who has been designated by the IS group as its leader in the Philippines.
Marawi, a mosque-studded city about 800 kilometers southeast of Manila, is regarded as the heartland of the Islamic faith on southern Mindanao island.
Hapilon escaped, and gunmen loyal to him swept through the city of 200,000 people, torching buildings and taking hostages.
Soldiers have now taken control of about 90 percent of Marawi, said military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla. He added Hapilon is believed to be still in Marawi. As of June 1, a total of 120 militants have been killed in the fighting since May 23. At least 25 soldiers, five policemen and more than 24 civilians have been killed in the clashes.
‘Solidarity appeal’ for Marawi
The Catholic Church’s social-action arm last week launched a “solidarity appeal” to dioceses to extend help to people displaced by the ongoing clash between government troops and the Maute terrorist group.
“The national Caritas is now appealing to your generosity for any assistance to augment the needs of the internally displaced persons affected by the Marawi siege,” said Caritas Philippines head Cáceres Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona in a letter to 85 dioceses and social-action directors nationwide.
Caritas Manila has sent an initial P500,000 and 100 cavans of rice to augment the Iligan diocese’s relief operations.
Marawi Bishop de la Peña said much more needs to be done, as he emphasizes the need to aid the evacuees.
“Food, clean water, blankets, sleeping mats and other essentials remain the top priorities,” he added. Private individuals and groups who wish to donate may do so through the following bank account: Bank of the Philippine Islands, Intramuros, Manila, branch; account name: CBCP Caritas Filipinas Foundation Inc. Nassa; account number: 4951-0071-08.
Other dioceses in Mindanao have also started helping the Prelature of Marawi to assist the displaced families.
Thousands of families have been displaced from Marawi City and are now staying at different evacuation centers in Iligan City and in nearby towns.
The archbishop said a Caritas Philippines assessment team has been deployed to Mindanao this week to further check on the needs of those affected.
Data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development showed that more than 55,000 families have fled their homes following the crisis in Marawi.
Image credits: CBCPNews