One year after Marawi’s liberation from IS, thousands of Christians still displaced
World Watch Monitor A year ago this month, the president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, declared victory over Islamic State-linked militants in a battle for the city of Marawi in the south of the country. On 23rd May 2017, militants belonging to the Maute group, an affiliate of Islamic State, had taken over Marawi. In the […]
Philippines’ Marawi conflict “not only about religion”, study finds
World Watch Monitor A study by International Alert shows that the armed conflict in the southern Philippines city of Marawi last year was not only about religion. Findings of the study, released by the independent peacebuilding group in the capital Manila on 2nd October, said that the war was not the result of a religious conflict. “Evidence shows that […]
Philippines priest celebrates first year of “second life” after escape
World Watch Monitor On the anniversary of his escape last week, the Catholic priest held hostage for four months by an Islamist group in the southern Philippines city of Marawi says he has since found a new lease of life, reports Catholic news agency UCAN. Fr Teresito Suganob was one of around 200 people taken hostage when Islamists stormed the city […]
Fears new Muslim region in southern Philippines could spark Christian exodus
World Watch Monitor Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has called on all communities in the southern Mindanao region to support the Bangsamoro Organic Law that is to facilitate the creation of an autonomous Muslim region. During a ceremony on Monday, 6th August, he urged the local population “to actively participate in constructive discussions about the law”, which will […]
Catholic priest who was Marawi hostage for almost four months tries to find healing
World Watch Monitor One year after Islamist militants stormed the southern Philippines city of Marawi and eight months since his escape from his kidnappers, Catholic priest Father Teresito Suganob is trying to find healing for himself and his nation, reports UCAN. Father Suganob was one of around 200 people who were taken hostage by the Islamists when they stormed […]
Marawi’s rebuilding yet to start, despite warning that defeating extremism depends on it
World Watch Monitor Four months after the battle ended over the southern Philippines city of Marawi, Muslim leaders have called on people to stop posting divisive information on social media. Rumours were spread via social media in recent weeks, saying that the Catholic cathedral, which was severely damaged during the conflict last year, would be rebuilt […]
Philippines: Marawi liberated but root cause of extremism remains
World Watch Monitor Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte declared “Marawi City liberated from the terrorist influence” this week after the military killed two of the ring leaders behind the five-month assault on the city, but a religious freedom expert has warned the “killing of militant leaders does not destroy the fighters behind them”. Isnilon Hapilon, seen as the […]
Filipino priest Teresito Suganob free after four months as hostage
World Watch Monitor Catholic Filipino priest Teresito “Chito” Suganob is finally free, having been held hostage by Islamic State-linked militants for almost four months in the war-torn city of Marawi. According to The New York Times, the priest was rescued late on Saturday by the Philippines military, as it moved closer to rooting out the remaining gunmen from one […]
PHILIPPINES: “MARAWI WAR IS NOT A RELIGIOUS CONFLICT”, SAY CATHOLIC BISHOPS
World Watch Monitor reports…
Kidnapped Philippines priest ‘alive’ but Marawi situation still ‘dire’
World Watch Monitor The Catholic priest abducted by the Maute terrorist group last month – in the early stages of its ongoing assault on the city of Marawi in the southern Philippines – is believed to be still alive, after his release was reportedly offered in exchange for the parents of the Maute group’s leader. […]