Priest, 200 others held hostage in Philippines

MARAWI, Philippines — A Catholic priest who was taken hostage by militants linked to the Islamic State group says he’s being held alongside 200 other captives, including children, in what appeared to be a battle-scarred part of a southern Philippine city.

In a video apparently taken under duress by extremists, the Rev. Teresito Suganob said his captors wanted the military to withdraw its forces from Marawi, where Islamist radicals still hold pockets of territory after a week of gun battles with the army.

A colleague of Father Suganob confirmed that the man in the video is the priest. It was not clear when the video was taken or who released it online, and whether Father Suganob believed what he was saying or was forced to say it.

“We want to live another day,we want to live another month,” Father Suganob said, standing in front of debris and partially burned buildings. Directing his remarks to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, he said, “We want to live [a] few years and in your generosity, Mr. President, in your heart, we know you can make something [happen].”

Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Pena confirmed that it was Father Suganob in the video.

“I was glad to see that he is alive but we were also saddened because the fact that the terrorists are ready to negotiate means they are pressed against the wall and they are also desirous to get away from the situation and their bargaining chip are the hostages,” he said.

The siege in Marawi followed an unsuccessful army raid last week that attempted to capture militant commander Isnilon Hapilon, who has been designated by IS as its leader in the Philippines.

Marawi, a mosque-studded city about 500 miles southeast of Manila, is regarded as the heartland of the Islamic faith on southern Mindanao island.

Mr. Hapilon escaped and gunmen loyal to him swept through the city of 200,000 people, torching buildings and taking hostages.

Soldiers have now taken control of about 70 percent of Marawi, military chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Ano said Tuesday. More than 100 militants, government forces and civilians have been killed.