Marawi priest Chito Suganob among rescued hostages —Jesus Dureza

Father Teresito "Chito" Suganob, who had been held by the ISIS-Maute group since the crisis broke out in Marawi City on May 23, was one of the hostages troops rescued on Saturday night.

Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza relayed the news through a Facebook post on Sunday morning. He said he received the report from Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corporation (Phividec) Industrial Authority CEO and administrator Franklin Quijano, a former mayor of Iligan.

Dureza said that Suganob was rescued by government troops near the Bato Mosque.

In an interview over Church-run Radyo Veritas, Iligan City Bishop Elenito Galido said they were informed that Suganob was rescued along with a teacher of Dansalan College, one of the establishments attacked by the Maute group.

"Good news talaga. Nagpasalamat ako sa mga sundalo na naka rescue kay Fr. Chito at isang teacher yata ng Dansalan na-rescue sila at kaming lahat dito ay natutuwa. Talagang answered prayers. Talagang palagi naming ipinagdarasal. Ngayon malaya na sila. Thanks be to God," Galido said.

The bishop said they have yet to confirm if Suganob will be brought to Iligan City or to Manila.

Suganob, vicar general of the city's Cathedral of Our Lady Help of  Christians, was seized by the local terrorists along with several parishioners during an attack on the church on May 23. 

A video of Suganob surfaced on social media where he sought the help of President Rodrigo Duterte. The military, however, had said it was verifying the authenticity of the video.

Duterte place the entire Mindanao under martial law following the Maute group's attack on the city.

Dureza, meanwhile, told GMA News Online that the Armed Forces of the Philippines has yet to issue an official announcement on the rescue of Suganob.

"Military ops ongoing so we don't jeopardize their [operations]," he said.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla told GMA News Online that they have yet to receive an official report.

AFP Public Affairs chief Colonel Edgard Arevalo said they are still validating on whether Suganob is among the rescued hostages.

"We are still validating that information. As of now, we cannot still give details. The rescue operation is still ongoing," he said.

In an earlier dzBB report, two hostages of the ISIS-inspired Maute group were rescued on Saturday night as government troops retake the Bato mosque and the Amaitul Islamiya Marawi Foundation (JIMF) building in Marawi City.

Lanao de sur Provincial Crisis Management Committee spokesman and Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong confirmed that the Bato Mosque was used by the Maute group to hold hostages, including Suganob.

The military said that as of September 14, a total of 670 Maute group members , 47 civilians, and 147 government troops have been killed in the ongoing conflict.

A total of 692 firearms and 11 unexploded ordnance have also been recovered. —LBG/ALG/BM, GMA News