Duterte cracks down after Marawi kidnappings

The Catholic bishops of Mindanao, the southernmost major island of the Philippines, have expressed alarm at the sudden increase in violence in the Muslim-majority city of Marawi, writes Ellen Teague.

Since 23 May the city of 200,000 has seen 100 people killed, a Catholic priest, Fr Teresito Suganob, and 15 parishioners kidnapped, and the destruction of its Catholic cathedral. “We condemn the terrorist acts that have caused the loss of many innocent lives, the burning of homes, and public buildings,” the bishops said in a 26 May statement signed by Mindanao Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, Archbishop of Cotabato. “We pray for the safety of Fr Teresito Suganob and his companions.” As The Tablet went to press, Fr Suganob, vicar-general of the prelature of Marawi, and 13 other Christians were still being held by the Islamist extremists.

President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to crush the militants and “solve the problems of Mindanao once and for all.” But the Bishops’ Conference president, Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, urged the security forces “to make the safety of the hostages a prime consideration”.

The bishops hope Mr Duterte’s imposition of martial law in Mindanao for 60 days, which gives special powers to the armed forces, will only be temporary. “We shall condemn any abuse of martial law and, as in the past, will condemn it outright if it goes in the way of evil,” they said, in a reference to the use of martial law under president Ferdinand Marcos.

There was alarm last week when Mr Duterte quipped to soldiers that they were allowed to rape up to three women.

The battle for Marawi began after security forces tried to arrest a veteran militant. Gunmen of the Maute Islamist group took control of the streets as thousands fled the city. Security forces took back control of most of Marawi but there was no news of the hostages. Bishop Edwin de la Pena, head of Marawi prelature, confirmed the killing of nine Catholics at an Islamist “checkpoint” outside the city and said he was “very worried” that the hostages could be used as human shields. Catholic-majority Philippines has faced Muslim separatist movements for decades in largely Muslim Mindanao.

The governor of the Mindanao region said the rebels were from three groups – Maute, Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters – and the crisis has raised fears that the groups are aligning with Islamic State (IS). “The Government must put an end to this. I cannot gamble with IS because they are everywhere,” Mr Duterte said.