Philippine troops retake IS-stronghold in Marawi
Philippine troops rescued a catholic priest held hostage for almost four months by Islamic State-linked rebels after an offensive that captured a stronghold of the militants in southern Marawi City, defence officials said yesterday.
Marawi's vicar-general Father Teresito "Chito" Soganub was kidnapped along with other Christians as militants rampaged through the city on May 23, burning churches and schools, releasing prisoners and seizing arms in a well-planned assault.
Soganub, flanked by Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and military chief General Eduardo Ano, appeared to be in good health and high spirits when he was presented to the media in Manila. He expressed his thanks but gave no statement.
"Our troops gained the upper hand, the terrorists were forced to withdraw to nearby structures on the periphery of the mosque," Lorenzana told a media briefing in Manila, referring to the Bato mosque held by the rebels for 117 days.
"Troops had opportunity to snatch Father Chito..."
The appearance of Soganub is some rare good news for a military that has suffered a string of setbacks in Marawi, from deadly accidents during a controversial campaign of air strikes to repeatedly missing deadlines on when the battle would be won.
The siege of the city by an alliance of rebels from the island of Mindanao, and numerous foreign fighters, has been the biggest internal security crisis in years for the Philippines.
Soganub made an appearance under duress in a militant propaganda video about a week after his capture, urging the government to stop the military operation.
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