The Catholic Bishop of Marawi has urged Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and the nation’s military to ensure saving lives is their priority in retaking the remainder of the southern city of Marawi from Islamic extremists.
Bishop Edwin de la Peña said in comments to Agenzia Fides late last week that with much of the city now reconquered, terrorists continue to hold a group of hostages, including Catholic priest Fr Teresito Soganub.
“It is a very dangerous moment because the lives of the hostages in these hours is in great danger,” he said. Noting the “impatience” of the President to end the crisis, he appealed for the priority to be saving lives.
“We hope every action respects this priority. The lives of hostages are not and will never be considered ‘collateral damage’. They are human lives and their families are very concerned. If something bad happened, it would be a great pain. Let us pray for them with all our heart.”
Islamic State-linked militants seized large parts of the city back in May but have now been driven back to small area in the commercial heart. Hundreds have been killed in the fighting.
Bishop de la Peña confirmed that the Catholic Cathedral of Marawi has been taken back from the militants but said he had not yet received permission to see it.
“We will do our best to rebuild it. And all the people of Marawi, now displaced, cannot wait to go back to their land. They want to go back, to start the slow recovery and reconstruction.”
Correction: The headline of this story originally mistakenly named the Bishop of Malawi – it has been corrected to Bishop of Marawi.
