Priest, another hostage rescued in Marawi City

BALITANG PH : Father Teresito “Chito” Soganub and another hostage, a teacher, were rescued by government forces from the Maute group in Marawi City on Saturday ( Sept 16 ) after more than 100 days of being taken captives by the Islamic State group-aligned captors in the southern Philippines. Father Soganub, 51, the vicar-general of the prelate of St. Mary Church in Marawi, was taken, along with 240 other individuals by the Maute group when it attacked the city on May 23, SunStar Philippines reports.  Top military and defense officials met Soganub and he was briefly presented to a huge group of journalists, photographers and TV cameras at the military headquarters. “Pray for me, for my healing and recovery,” said Soganub, who appeared remarkably healthy with a long, white beard, and was in a jovial mood as he thanked his rescuers.  SunStar reports that  the Catholic priest has long promoted a dialogue between Muslims and Christians in the country’s south, saying, “I still believe in an interfaith relationship, that we can be united as Muslims and Christians, that we’re not enemies,” while on board an air force plane that brought him to Manila. Military chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Año said the priest told him he was not harmed by the militants.