(Eagle News) — Civilians being held hostage by terrorists in Marawi are being made to dress like their captors and hold guns so they would look like they were part of the group being hunted down by government forces.
Catholic priest Teresito “Chito” Suganob, 51, shared this information with government security forces after he was rescued from the hands of the terrorists led by Omar Maute in Barangay Sangkay on Saturday, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Eduard Año said.
Apart from Suganob, also rescued during the government troops’ assault on Batoh mosque at 11:45 p.m., was Lordvin Ocopio, a teacher of Dansalan College.
Año said the rescue was a “deliberate effort” and an “intelligence project” supported by operations.
“Pressure daw pag may bakbakan,” Año told reporters in a press conference after they presented Suganob, who was flown to Manila, to the media.
“Really harsh conditions”
According to the military chief, the Catholic priest–who has yet to undergo a “custodial debriefing”— said he was fed properly and was not hurt in the almost four months he was in captivity.
He said, however, that he did not know if that was the case with the other hostages, as he did not see them frequently during his stay there, the military chief said.
Based on “internal sources,” there were 25 other hostages with Suganob in Batoh mosque, but the Catholic priest said he only saw 12 others, Año said.
Año said there were other hostages in other buildings near the mosque.
All in all, the military chief said the terrorists were still holding around 45 to 50 hostages, whom they used as “insurance to get out alive,” and as “human shields.”
“He underwent really harsh conditions. ..Focused lang siya sa everyday survival niya..,” Año said of Suganob.
Over soon
With the recovery of Batoh mosque, and another building the Maute terrorists used as their “logistics center,” among others, Año said the crisis in Marawi will soon be over.
He said only two “main groups”–the one following Maute, and the other following Isnilon Hapilon– were now leading the assault in the war-torn city.
He said based on information provided by three Maute terrorists previously arrested, a surrenderee, and “inside sources,” the other Mautes–Abdullah, Madie and Otto–were indeed dead.
“May siblings na dalawang Maute but we feel they’re not significant,” Año said.
He said apart from this, the area the military needs to “clear” has been reduced to 10 hectares.
“What we are after is to get the job done and get those hostages alive, out of the main battle area,” he said.
