Continue to pray for safety of hostages – Marawi bishop
Continue praying for the safety of the hostages of the Maute group and for the end of this conflict, Marawi Bishop Edwin Dela Peña urged the faithful yesterday, appealing to the government to give greater weight to the safety of hostages, as security forces continue their final assault.
“If they do the final assault, the lives of the hostages could just be sacrificed and be considered as collateral damage… that is not acceptable. To me, they are not collateral damage,” Dela Peña said as the war in Marawi entered its 105th day yesterday.
“I call on all Christians to come out with their similar opposition to this plan (of the military),” he added.
Last week, President Duterte said he won’t stop the military from bombing the remaining hideouts of terrorists, including mosques, even if these also hold hostages.
“Let us continue praying… let us pray that this crisis will already
end without sacrificing more lives,” he said in a CBCP News post.
The Maute terrorists are believed to be holding some 30 hostages, including Catholic priest Fr. Chito Suganob, who were taken while they were praying in the Cathedral of St. Mary’s last May 23. Healing Bishop Dela Peña said they could not wait for the war to end and begin the “process of healing people and communities, bridging the gaps, sharing our dreams, and reconstructing our lives.”
“These processes have to begin now before the reconstruction begins and before people will go back to the city,” he said.
The prelate earlier led Christians and Muslims in launching “Duyog Marawi,” an effort of the Marawi prelature, in partnership with some religious and non-government organizations, to rebuild Marawi.