Military: Captive priest still alive, being made to cook for terrorists

MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic priest still in the hands of Islamist militants in Marawi is still alive, the military said on Monday, as the number of deaths in the battle for Marawi continues to rise.

According to Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera, spokesperson for Joint Task Force Marawi, Catholic priest Chito Suganob is still alive based on information given by rescued hostages three days ago.

The accounts of the survivors came days after the government rejected an alleged offer from the Maute fighters to free Suganob in exchange for releasing the parents of the brothers Omar and Abdullah Maute.

Cayamora Maute and his wife Omenta Maute are detained in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

“Ang panayam po namin doon sa mga survivors or escapee nung three days ago po is buhay siya. Kasama nila sa isang parang hostage area,” Herrera told DZMM radio.

The clashes between security personnel and Maute fighters are already on their 42nd day, and these have already transformed Marawi into a virtual ghost town as most of its more than 200,000 residents have fled the city for shelters in neighboring areas.

Based on the latest government information, 336 rebels, 84 government fighters and 39 civilians have died in the long-running battle which has destroyed much of downtown Marawi where the militants are still entrenched.

The fighting, which stemmed from a failed attempt to arrest Abu Sayyaf subleader Isnilon Hapilon, now said to be appointed emir of the so-called ISIS in Southeast Asia, on May 23, prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to place Mindanao under military rule.

Herrera said that based on survivor accounts, Suganob was being made to cook and serve food to the militants.

“Nagse-serve pa rin daw ng pagkain. Siya raw ang ginagawang taga-serve, taga-luto o ano. Visual po, nakita ng mga nakapanayam natin,” the military spokesman said, adding that security forces are still monitoring the “fluid” situation on the ground.

Clearing operations continue

Around 100 civilians remain trapped in the city while security personnel have been able to rescue more than 1,700 civilians who were caught in the fighting.

During the initial stages of the fighting, about 2,000 civilians were caught in the fighting, according to Herrera.

The military still continues its clearing operations, and on Sunday it was able to retake 40 buildings that were previously held by the rebels.

Government troops were also able to recover war materiel and improvised explosive devices from the cleared structures, said Herrera.

“Kahapon po may around 40 tayo na buildings na na-clear. Ang ibig sabihin po nito nag-move forward po tayo. Yung mga buildings na yun dating pugad ng Maute. Nagpapatuloy po yung ating clearing combat operations. In the last 48 hours po marami po tayong nakuhang war materials, IED at meron rin po tayong mangilan-ngilan rin po tayong nailigtas na mga hostages o escapee,” he said.

The military has struggled to rid Marawi of Islamist militants who are positioned in strategic areas. Despite this, soldiers have significantly reduced the area where the rebels are holed up and operating, and they are targeting to free the town before Duterte delivers his State of the Nation Address later this month.