Bishop on Marawi church damage: ‘They just want to entice us into anger’

The Maute group may have wanted to goad Christian Filipinos into hating Muslims by desecrating a church in Marawi, but one Catholic prelate wants them to know that it's not going to work.

"Ako, I was really angry. Nagalit talaga kami, including practically lahat kami na mananampalataya sa cathedral ng Marawi galit na galit," Marawi City Bishop Edwin Dela Peña said in an interview on Balitanghali.

"Talagang binaboy yung ating simbahan saka yung bang habang ginagawa nila yun sumisigaw pa sila ng 'Allahu akbar', yun bang kinatutuwa nila yung kanilang ginagawa sinasama pa ang Diyos," he added.

However, Dela Peña said, they understood that the video was meant to invite hate among Christians and Muslims. "Alam namin kung ano ang layunin nila, na they just want to entice us into anger and irrational [behavior]. Siyempre 'pag ikaw ay galit na galit anything can happen," he said.

He said that devotees understood the purpose of the video. "I'm happy with the way our people have reacted kasi hindi sila nag-ge-generalize," Dela Peña said. "Alam namin kung sino ang mga gumagawa nito and hindi namin ibinabaling yung aming poot sa aming mga kapatid na Muslim na kaibigan namin. We still keep that friendship very special."

The military had earlier called on the public to refrain from sharing the Maute group's propaganda video which was meant to inflame hatred of Muslims.

A Catholic priest also called for calm among devotees following the circulation of the viral video.

Counselling for traumatized residents

Meanwhile, Dela Peña said a Carmelite priest has been organizing a counseling program for residents traumatized by the Marawi crisis, which entered its 17th day.

"Mayroon siyang ganitong expertise at nag-o-organize siya ngayon sa evacuation centers ng team of volunteers, preferably yung mga kapatid nating Maranao kasi kailangan makuha muna yung trust nila," the priest said.

He added the team is coordinating with other sectors in the Muslim community to conduct psychosocial interventions for displaced residents.

"We are training some volunteers, partners namin in dialogue na mga Muslim para sila na mismo ang magsagawa ng ganitong psychosocial intervention," Dela Peña said. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/BM, GMA News