PDut: Priest rescued through special ops
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte welcomed Monday the rescue of Catholic priest Teresito ‘Chito’ Soganub who had been held captive by Islamic State-linked Maute terrorists since the armed conflict erupted in Marawi City on May 23.
In a chance interview in Bagumbong, North Caloocan, the President said Soganub was rescued by security forces through a “special operation” focused on saving the priest.
“Fr. [Soganub] was not released. He was liberated through a special operation. [The operation was] focused on him because [the hostages] are on separate [places]. Meaning, he was rescued by special forces or rangers,” Duterte said after his visit to the wake of a Caloocan policeman kiled in a drug raid.
Soganub’s rescue was first announced by Presidential Adviser on
Peace Process Jesus Dureza on September 17.
On a Facebook post, Dureza said he received information that Soganub, vicargeneral of the prelate of St. Mary Church in Marawi, was rescued by government troops near Bato Mosque in Marawi City.
Soganub was taken hostage by the Maute fighters when they laid siege to the war-torn city. A video of Suganob surfaced on socila media, seeking Duterte’s help.
The President denied that Soganub was rescued through a back-channel negotiations with the Maute group.
He maintained that there would be no dialogue with the Islamist fighters as his order to the state forces is to go on with the operations “until the last terrorist is taken out.”
“No, impossible. Impossible. I will not even agree to look at them. I said – I hope you understand me since then – this will not end until the last terrorist is taken out. That is my order to the armed forces and to the police. [Do not stop] until the last enemy is killed,” he said.
Soganub, who was presented to the media at Camp Karingal, Quezon City, assured the public that he is “physically strong and handsome.”
He also asked the Filipinos to pray for him as he now lives a normal life.
“I’ll pray for you. God bless you. Pray for me also for my healing and recovery,” Soganub said.
Suganob, the vicar general of the Cathedral of Our Lady Help of Christian, was held hostage by the Maute terror group for 117 days.
He was accompanied to Manila Monday by a medical team, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, AFP Chief General Eduardo Año, Joint Task Force Marawi spokesperson Colonel Romeo Brawner Jr., and Lanao Del Sur Provincial Crisis Management Committee Zia Adiong.
He was rescued at 11:45 p.m. of September 16 after government troops attacked the Maute group who was holed up at Bato Mosque in Marawi City. He was taken by the terrorists since May 23.
Also rescued on Saturday in the vicinity of Barangay Sangcay, Dansalan, Marawi City, was a teacher of Dansalan College. The troops also seized several improvised explosives devices.
“As the firefight between our troops and the Maute rebels at the Bato mosque progressed, the terrorists were forced to withdraw to the nearby structures...While the terrorists were busy repelling the attack, the troops had the opportunity to snatch Fr. Chito,” Lorenzana said.
He said Suganob and the other rescued hostage were immediately brought out of the conflict zone and underwent medical checkup.
But Año said the Maute group is still holding several hostages.
“According to our intelligence sources, 12 hostages were held at Bato Mosque,” he said, adding that some civilians are also being held hostage in other buildings occupied by the terrorists in Marawi City.
He said the Maute group is still holding around 45 to 50 civilians.
Año said Suganob’s rescue was a result of the troops “very deliberate effort” to regain Marawi City and save the civilians.
He said there were several attempts to rescue the hostages, but the terrorists have been fighting back and used the Bato mosque as their “battle position, machine gun nest, and storage of combat supplies.”
“There were times to extricate him, pero doon kami nahirapan kung papano siya (Fr. Suganob) ilabas. Meron ding times na si Fr. Chito mismo ang nagsabi na ‘Wag na. Hayaan n’yo na akong mamatay dito. I already accepted my fate.’ So last Saturday, he was not aware that he will be extricated,” said Año.
He said that based on statements of those who surrendered and were captured, Omar Maute is the one leading the terrorists. “His brothers, Abdullah, Madi and Oto, are already dead,” he said.
“We have sources inside, hindi na lumalabas ang pangalan nila, except Omar (Only Omar’s name was mentioned by our sources).
There are two main groups, one is led by Hapilon, ito ‘yung mga galing pa ng Basilan, at itong kay Omar,” he added.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that according to Suganob, the hostages were treated well.
“There were days na nakakain sila ng maayos. Hindi sila sinasaktan ng mga Maute members (They were fed well and not hurt by the Maute members),” said Lorenzana.
But there were also instances, especially during a firefight, when the hostages are ordered to carry firearms and pose like a member of the Maute group.
“Alam natin na ang ibang hostages sinusuotan nila na parang mga Maute members (We know that some hostages were told to pose like the Maute members), but we told them to drop their firearms and cross to the nearest military position, where they will be accepted unharmed,” said Año, adding many have surrendered through that means.
As of September 18, 673 terrorists were neutralized, 149 troops were killed, 47 civilians have died in the ongoing conflict and 1,730 were rescued, 699 firearms were recovered, and seven buildings were cleared by the military.
“I am confident that the soldiers, airmen and sailors marines, policemen and coast guards will accomplish the mission sooner than I expected,” Lorenzana said, adding the troops are clearing only about 10 hectares of Marawi City.
Lorenzana said that as instructed by President Rodrigo Duterte, the troops are operating “quietly” to avoid putting the lives of the other hostages in danger. SunStar Philippines