Maute-ISIS bandits forced captive Catholic priest to convert to Islam

The Catholic priest who was abducted by the Maute-ISIS bandits in Marawi at the start of the siege was forced to convert to the Muslim faith, the crisis spokesman has said.

According to Chino Gaston's report on "State of the Nation", Fr. Chito Soganub told military officials that he was treated well by the bandits while he was in captivity.

He, however, told of instances when hostages like him were told to carry weapons when bandit strongholds are under attack by government forces.

"He was forced to because that's what the Maute, their captors, requested them to do that they be converted to Islam," Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong told reporters in the city.

Adiong said forced conversions are not recognized by Islam.

Soganub was rescued along with a teacher of Dansalan College, one of the establishments attacked by the Maute group.

He was seized by the local terrorists along with several parishioners during an attack on the church on May 23.

As of September 17, a total of 1,730 civilians have been rescued while 47 were  killed by terrorists.

Meanwhile, a total of 673 Maute members and 149 government troops have been killed in the ongoing firefight in Marawi. —NB, GMA News