GOVERNMENT forces rescued Fr. Chito “Chito” Suganob and a companion from remnants of the Maute Group in Marawi City on Saturday night, hours after retaking two major positions from the terrorist group.
The rescue was disclosed yesterday by Secretary Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, but the Armed Forces declined to comment, only saying rescue operations were ongoing. Dureza declined to elaborate.
Security officials have reportedly chastised Dureza for prematurely disclosing the rescue, saying this has placed in danger the lives of remaining hostages and of the operating troops.
“We wanted to keep it secret temporarily because we’re still trying to rescue other hostages... He may have put in danger the safety of the hostages and the soldiers,” one of the officials, who asked not to be named, said.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, at around noon yesterday, said the Armed Forces has advised Malacañang to “refrain from making comments on the latest developments in the main battle area of Marawi at this time, as ongoing operations may be jeopardized, as well as the lives of the remaining hostages, or soldiers in the frontlines.”
Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the AFP Joint Task Force Ranao, held a press conference in Marawi City at around 5 p.m. yesterday but declined to confirm the rescue. He discussed the recovery of the Bato Mosque and the Jamaitul Islamiya Marawi Foundation building.
Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña said: “I am happy receiving messages about Fr. Chito’s rescue no matter how hazy they are.”
Dureza, in a Facebook post at around 8 a.m., quoted former Iligan City mayor Franklin Quijano as saying Suganob and his companion were rescued around 11 p.m. on Saturday near the Bato Mosque. He declined to give other details, referring questions to the AFP.
“Got this just now from Franklin M. Quijano: For info sir father Chito Suganob together with one other was rescued by troops near Bato mosque at ooa 162300hsept2017. This is the 2nd grand mosque in Marawi that has been taken over by our troops. To those who would wish to get more details, pls wait for the official announcement coming from the AFP and or the Palace in order not to jeopardize the ongoing mil operations,” Dureza said on Facebook.
Quijano was appointed by President Duterte in July this year as administrator and chief executive officer of the Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corporation-Industrial Authority and as member of the board of directors of the same institution.
Suganob is the vicar general of the prelate of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Marawi City, which has been desecrated by the Maute.
AFP spokesman Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla and AFP public affairs chief Col. Edgard Arevalo also refused to confirm the rescue.
“We cannot yet release any statement because the rescue operation is still ongoing,” said Padilla. Padilla said the military will issue a statement as soon as the operations are completed.
For his part, Arevalo said: “We have an ongoing rescue operation at the main battle area. We cannot give you details as of now lest we imperil the lives not only of our soldiers but more so that of the hostages.”
Suganob, in a video released a week after the Maute attacked Marawi on May 23, appealed to President Duterte to stop operations against the Maute. He has also said there were 240 hostages.
Recently, military estimates placed the number of the Maute hostages at around 30.
Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesman of the Lanao del Sur crisis committee, disclosed only the re-capture of the Bato Mosque, and foundation building, and Madaris schools.
He said on his Twitter page at 7:55 a.m.: “Bato Ali Mosque has been recovered by the military. This mosque was used to house hostages including Father Chito.”
One netizen asked about Suganob’s condition but Adiong did not respond.
‘FIERCE FIREFIGHT’
The rescue of Suganob and his unnamed companion came six hours after soldiers gained control of the Bato Mosque and the office of the Jamaitul Islamiya Marawi Foundation (JIMF), which were previously occupied by Maute members.
Arevalo said the two structures were retaken at around 5 p.m. Saturday following a “fierce firefight.” He said there were casualties on the enemy side but could not immediately give figures.
Arevalo said the mosque and the JIMF structures were “command and control positions” of the Maute Group. “It’s a battle position, with machine gun and sniper nest, so those are very important structures to them,” he said.
Arevalo would not say the number of structures which the troops are trying to clear of Maute members and improvised bombs. About a week ago, the military said the Maute remnants are confined in a 500-square meter area with about 300 structures.
Arevalo said last Saturday’s fighting was part of the major operations the military is launching to end the conflict.
“We’re nearing the conclusion, just a little patience more... We’re recovering their positions and their strength is waning,” said Arevalo.
Brawner said Maute leaders Omar and Abdullah Maute and Abu Sayyaf senior leader Isnilon Hapilon are still inside the main battle area.
“It’s important to get their leaders to prevent a repeat of Marawi... That’s why our security forces are exerting efforts to arrest or kill the leaders... We are trying our best to contain this crisis and to capture their leaders,” he said.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/priest-rescued-maute-premature-disclosure-endangered-remaining-hostages
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