Mindanao bishops call for release of priest held by Maute group

Catholic bishops based in Mindanao appealed for the release of Father Teresito "Chito" Suganob and several parishioners who were supposedly taken hostage by members of the Maute ISIS group.

"We pray for the safety of all the kidnapped, of Fr. Teresito Suganob and his companions. We appeal to the hostage takers to release all of them unharmed. The victims fear death but they also have the courage to give ultimate witness to Christ," Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo said in a statement released on Friday.

Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña earlier said that Maute group members torched the Cathedral of Our Lady Help of Christians and abducted Suganob and other officials.

He added that the terrorist group threatened to kill the hostages if the government forces will continue its offensive against them

However, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said they are still verifying reports regarding the matter.

Meanwhile, Quevedo along with all the Catholic Bishops in Mindanao called for prayer for those who were killed during the ongoing gunfight between government troops and the Maute group in Marawi City.

They also condemned the terrorist acts of the Maute group, noting that "terrorism distorts and falsifies the true meaning of any religion."

He added that terrorism "destroys harmonious relationships among peoples of different faiths" and only "creates a world of suspicion and prejudice, of hatred and hostility.

"In the strongest terms we condemn terrorism in its various forms. It is an ideology that is totally against the tenets of any religion of peace. Especially so when terrorism is perpetrated while our Muslim brothers and sisters are preparing for the holy month of Ramadan," Quevedo said.

Quevedo also asked for "pastoral guidance" amid martial law in Mindanao as he called on the public to be vigilant and to remain calm and not provoke any violent reaction during the 60 days of implementation.

"[W]e simply do not have solid and sufficient facts to absolutely reject the declaration of Martial Law as morally reprehensible. But we are certainly agreed that Martial Law must be temporary," he said.

"We shall condemn any abuse of Martial Law and as in the past will condemn it outright if it goes in the way of evil. Let us be vigilant," he added.

Following the clashes, President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in the entire island of Mindanao on May 23, Tuesday a few minutes past 11 p.m. during his official visit in Russia.

Duterte justified his declaration by pointing out in his report submitted to Congress that the joint attack by the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups in Marawi City would eventually lead to the take over of entire Mindanao.

“Considering the network and alliance-building activities among terrorist groups, local criminals, and lawless armed men, the siege of Marawi City is a vital cog in attaining their long-standing goal: absolute control over the entirety of Mindanao,” he wrote in his report.

“These circumstances demand swift and decisive action to ensure the safety and security of the Filipino people and preserve out national integrity,” Duterte added. — BAP, GMA News