Ex-Maute hostage Fr. Soganub ‘remains a Catholic priest’ —bishop

Former Maute hostage Fr. Chito Soganub will remain a Catholic priest even after he reportedly converted to Islam during his captivity, according to Bishop Edwin dela Peña of the Diocese of Marawi City.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Dela Peña said Soganub's conversion to Islam cannot be considered "full" as it was done "under duress."

"You cannot consider that full conversion. There is no substance to it if you are under duress. You cannot give your full consent. That is what religion is all about. Whatever it is, true or not, it doesn't hold any water for me," he said.

He added that as far as they are concerned, Soganub "remains a Catholic priest."

"We have to put ourselves in his shoes. It would be difficult to decide one way or another when you are forced," Dela Peña said.

Soganub was rescued Saturday night by government forces during an operation near Bato Mosque in Marawi City. He spent over three months in captivity.

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong said Soganub, who was brought to Metro Manila on Monday, was forced to convert to Islam by the Maute group while he was their hostage.

Dela Peña said he would meet with Soganub on Tuesday afternoon before he returns to Marawi City on Wednesday morning. Soganub, he said, will remain in Manila for his debriefing.

"The military is making a program for him while at the same time the prelature is making a program for him," he said.

In his official statement, Dela Pena said Soganob's release did not distract the Prelature of Marawi from the hostages remaining in the hands of the Maute group, the displacement of at least 360,000 persons as a result of the armed conflict, and the grief of Marawi residents over the destruction of their city.

Christian communities were called on to continue supporting the displaced through non-government organizations, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, or through their local churches.

President Rodrigo Duterte was also asked to "allow some of the displaced families to return home particularly those who live in secured and government-controlled areas away from ground zero."

Military reports estimate that there are 40 to 60 hostages left in the hands of the Maute group, which attacked the city on May 23 and since then has been the subject of intense military operations. —KBK, GMA News