Three Marawi siege leaders slain
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año on Monday confirmed the death of three Maute brothers as a result of fierce clashes inside war-torn Marawi City.
In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Año said that based on the debriefing of captured and surrendered members of the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group, Maute brothers Abdullah, Madi, and Otto, are already dead.
With this latest development, the only remaining leader of the group is Omar Maute.
Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, who joined the group, is still in the Main Battle Area (MBA) based on intelligence reports the military has been receiving.
“Based on the custodial debriefing of those captured and who surrendered, si Omar Maute na lang ang nabubuhay (Omar Maute is the only one alive),” Año said.
“Si Abdullah, si Madi, at saka si Otto ay patay na raw ito lahat. May mga sibling din doon na hindi naman prominente na dalawang Maute din (Abdullah, Madi, and Otto are all reported dead. There are two Maute siblings there who are not that prominent) but we feel that they are not significant,” Año said.
Aside from those who surrendered, Año said they have sources inside the MBA confirming the death of the three Maute brothers.
For him that’s already validated information.
Asked if there are still foreign fighters inside Marawi, Año said there are about 10 of them, mostly Indone-
sians and Malaysians.
Regarding the number of remaining hostages, Año said there are still about 45 to 50 of them, while there are about 50 to 60 remaining Maute fighters still in Marawi.
12 remain captive
Año said in the Bato mosque where Father Teresito “Chito” Soganub was rescued by government forces last Saturday, there remain 12 hostages there.
The news that Fr. Soganub was finally free after 117 days of captivity by the Maute Group was greeted with great rejoicing here on Monday.
Church leaders led by Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña welcomed the news on the rescue of Soganub and other hostages.
“Our joy couldn’t be complete if the good news received will not be shared,” Iligan City Vice Mayor Msgr. Jemar Vera Cruz said, despite the request of Fr. Soganub that he not tell anyone about his release in the meantime, in a cellular phone conversation on Monday.
“Dili masulod sa kalibutan ang gibating dakong kalipay” Vera Cruz said over the phone in an interview with DXIC-RMN.
He said Fr. Soganub is thankful for all the prayers for his safe release and to St. Michael de Archangel for protecting him.
Fr. Soganub, who was presented to media at Camp Aquinaldo, Quezon City on Monday, thanked the people for praying for him following his safe rescue from the Main Battle Area (MBA) in Marawi City.
In a brief speech, Fr. Soganub assured that he is in good condition and only need some rest following his almost four-month captivity from the hands of the Daeshinspired Maute terrorist group.
Fr. Soganub, it was recalled, was taken by the Maute Group on May 23, 2017 shortly after the terrorist group occupied Marawi City.
Bishop Stephen L. Villaester, pastor of 3J2 Bible Center Anglican Church, also said he is grateful to God for the release of Fr. Soganub. “Thank you, Lord Jesus. This is indeed great news. I cannot wait to see him. He is my friend, my brother, and a counterpart at the Interfaith Council for Peace,” he said.
Healing, re-integration
Fr. Soganub, along with the other hostages of the Maute Group in Marawi City, will undergo a healing and reintegration program, Duyog Marawi, the social action center of the Prelature of Marawi, said on Facebook.
Bishop Dela Peña has a plan for the released hostages’ healing and reintegration. It includes a general medical checkup and hospital confinement, a long period of rest and recovery, together with trauma therapy.
While Fr. Soganub is going through a healing process, his chaplaincy, education, interfaith, and peace building programs and services at the Mindanao State University will be assumed by a combination of priests and lay missionaries from the Redemptorist Missionaries in the Philippines, Caritas Cebu, and the Capiz Archdiocesan Social Action Center in Roxas City.
The priest is the vicar general of the Marawi prelature, chaplain of MSU, and acting rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral. (With reports from Bonita L.Ermac and Leslie Ann G.Aquino)