Relatives of abducted Marawi priest ‘relieved’ over his rescue

ILOILO CITY—Relatives of a captive Catholic priest welcomed his reported rescue from the Maute Group members in Marawi City.

“We only heard of it from news reports and have not received confirmation from our relatives in (South Cotabato in Mindanao). But if this is true, we are happy and relieved,” Rufino Larroza, village chief of Maite Grande in Lambunao town in Iloilo, told the INQUIRER on Sunday.

Larroza is an uncle of Fr. Teresito “Chito” Suganob, vicar general of Marawi City, who was abducted ‪on May 23 after the Maute group members barged into the Cathedral of Our Lady Help of Christians. Several other church workers and worshipers were abducted.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza ‪on Sunday morning announced on his Facebook page that Suganob and another hostage were rescued ‪Saturday evening near the Bato Mosque.

READ: Priest abducted by Maute rescued by gov’t forces

There are no details on the circumstances of Suganob’s reported release.

Fr. Teresito Suganob makes an appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte to stop military operations in Marawi. (Photo from a video circulating on Facebook)

Dureza said in his post to wait for official announcements from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Malacanang.

A reported of INQUIRER Mindanao Bureau quoted a Navy official who said Suganob escaped from his captors during fighting between the terror group members and government troops.

The bearded priest whose family hails from Iloilo was last seen in a video clip appealing for a stop to military operations against their captors.

He also appealed in the video for help from President Duterte.

The Catholic Bishops of the Conference of the Philippines had also appealed for the safe release of Suganob and other hostages.

Larroza said they have not heard from Suganob since he was abducted.

“We have been praying and we have left everything to God. We are hoping that the reports we heard are true,” he said. /je