PHILIPPINES: WITH PINK VESTS AND PROTESTS, CLERGY BLESS LAND RIGHTS STRUGGLE
RINA CHANDRAN, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports on how Christians are supporting the struggle for land rights in the Philippines…
Mindanao in The Philippines gets first Christian deputy governor
World Watch Monitor The autonomous Muslim region in the southern Philippines has named its first deputy governor for Christians. Governor Mujiv Hataman said the appointment of Edgardo Ramirez, a known human rights activist and radio broadcaster, would ensure the voices of Christians – a minority in the region – are heard. After taking office on […]
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. […]
Kidnapped Philippines priest pleads: ‘Please consider us!’
World Watch Monitor As the battle for the southern Philippines city of Marawi continues, a priest being held hostage by Islamist militants has appeared in a video, pleading for the President to “consider” hostages’ lives and stop bombing the city. A spokesman for the Philippines army dismissed the video, which was released on Tuesday and […]
Islamists besieging Marawi, southern Philippines, kill nine Christians at checkpoint
World Watch Monitor Nine Christian civilians were reportedly shot dead at a militant-run checkpoint in the besieged city of Marawi in the southern Philippines on Tuesday. Filipino news site GMA News Online – one of the biggest news and public affairs networks in the country – reported that local residents identified the nine as Christians, saying they […]
Chaos in the Philippines as Islamist group storms city, abducts Christians and sets church on fire
World Watch Monitor A Catholic priest and 13 other Christians were taken hostage, while a cathedral and Protestant-run college were among the buildings set on fire, when an extremist group which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State descended upon the city of Marawi in the southern Philippines on Tuesday. Three fires broke out, as […]