Priest, parishioners held hostage in Marawi siege
Suganog
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A parish priest, his two helpers and 10 parishioners in Marawi City were taken hostage by the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute group during novena prayers Tuesday night, it was learned yesterday.
Fr. Teresito Suganog, his staff and parishioners were having prayers on the eve of the Feast of the Our Lady Help of Christians when Maute fighters barged into St. Mary’s Cathedral and took them as human shields amid a raging firefight between government forces and the Mautes.
“It was very unfortunate because Fr. Sito and the parishioners were having the last day of novena in preparation for their feast when they were taken,” Ozamiz Archbishop Martin Jumoad said yesterday.
“There’s no news yet as to the fate of the hostages,” he added.
Jumoad said Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña was supposed to attend the novena with Fr. Suganog but did not make it as he was at a meeting in another village.
Jumoad condemned the atrocities and appealed to the Mautes to release the captive priest, his helpers and parishioners.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines also condemned the terrorists and called on Filipinos to pray for peace in Mindanao, which has been placed under martial law in the wake of street skirmishes between government troops and the Maute in Marawi City. – With Edu Punay, Eva Visperas
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