An abducted Roman Catholic priest and a teacher were rescued by government troops on Southern Marawi city from the militants who are aligned with the Islamic State group, officials announced on September 17.
Fr. Teresito “Chito” Soganub, vicar general of Marawi and Lordwin Ocopio, a teacher at Dansalan College, were rescued by government troops after they were able to escape from their captors at the vicinity of Bato Mosque in Marawi City.
The two were among the dozens of people abducted by terrorist militants in May this year.
Secretary Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the peace process, posted on his Facebook account that Soganub and Ocopio were rescued at around 11 PM, September 16 near Bato Mosque.
Dureza and two senior security officials who asked for anonymity said they were able to Soganub and Ocopio late Saturday after battling with the terrorists to recapture a key mosque and another Islamic building used as a command center for the terrorists.
“The duo revealed [initially to the rescuing troops] that they escaped when their captors had a heavy firefight against the government forces in the said location and in the course of fleeing, they were identified by the military and they were brought to a safer place,” Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Rear Adm. Rene Medina, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao.
Fr. Soganub, along with the parish secretary and 10 parishioners, were abducted by terrorists on May 23.
He was previously seen in May in a video where he said that he was with about 200 other hostages. He also said his captors requested the military to leave their forces from Marawi.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
Photo credit: PIA Lanao del Sur Facebook page
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