Tag: Philippines

23 Catholic missionaries killed in 2017

January 4, 2018 Global News -- No Particular Country Catholics, Gloria Argoti, Jacques Hamel, Mexico, Missionaries, Nigeria, Paolo Dall’Oglio, Philippines, Samaan Shehata, Younan Abdulla

Mourners at the funeral of the popular activist Filipino priest Fr. Marcelito Paez

At least 23 people working for the Catholic Church were killed in 2017, a Vatican agency has said. For the eighth consecutive year the place where most violent deaths occurred was America, where 11 people lost their lives. Ten pastoral workers were killed in Africa, five in Nigeria, and two . . . Read More

Philippines: Marawi’s rebuilding goes beyond infrastructure

January 4, 2018 Philippines Islamic extremism, Marawi, Philippines, Teresito Suganob

The siege of the city of Marawi in Mindanao by Islamists one year ago, displaced many people. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

Two months after the southern Philippines’ city of Marawi was liberated from Islamic extremists, hundreds of thousands of its inhabitants are still living in temporary shelters outside the city, not knowing where to start with the rebuilding of their lives, nor how to heal the scars. Fighting in Marawi broke . . . Read More

Philippines priest describes ‘nightmare’ ordeal in Marawi

November 29, 2017 Philippines Islamic extremism, Marawi, Mindanao, Philippines, Teresito Suganob

The Catholic priest held captive by Islamic militants in the Philippines city of Marawi has described his 116 days in captivity as “a nightmare”, reports UCA News. Father Teresito Suganob spoke about his ordeal as he returned to the island of Mindanao for the first time since his release on . . . Read More

Philippines: Marawi liberated but root cause of extremism remains

October 20, 2017 Philippines Abu Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Islamic State, Marawi, Maute, Mindanao, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, Southeast Asia

Soldiers on a military vehicle are seen on liberated but battle damaged street in Marawi City on 17 October. (Photo: Getty Images)

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte declared “Marawi City liberated from the terrorist influence” on Tuesday (17 October) after the military killed two of the ring leaders behind the five-month assault on the city, but a religious freedom expert has warned the “killing of militant leaders does not destroy the fighters behind . . . Read More

ASEAN nations told to ‘end blasphemy laws that inspire violence’

October 4, 2017 ASEAN, Blasphemy, Borneo, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Islamic extremism, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Religious freedom, Sharia, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Sunni, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

A right for all - USCIRF report on ASEAN nations

On its 50th anniversary, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should repeal blasphemy laws, release prisoners of conscience and strengthen interfaith relationships, says the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). In a new report, USCIRF highlights regional “arrests, detentions, and imprisonments based on religious belief, practice, or activities, . . . Read More

Philippines: Islamic group vows to help Catholics with Marawi’s rebuilding

October 2, 2017 Philippines Abu Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Catholics, Islamic State, Marawi, Maute, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Philippines

A programme launched by the Catholic Church, aimed at rebuilding the city of Marawi in the southern Philippines after months of fighting between Islamist groups and the military, has received support from the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. According to AsiaNews, the rebel group is . . . Read More

Philippines: Catholic priest free but over 40 hostages still held in Marawi

September 20, 2017 Philippines Abu Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Manila, Marawi, Maute, Mindanao, Philippines, Teresito Suganob

Members of the Philippine army are clearing Marawi City of the last fighters of the insurgent Maute group. (Photo: Getty Images)

Catholic Filipino priest Teresito “Chito” Suganob may have been freed, but the war in the southern city of Marawi is not over yet, as 40 hostages are still being held by militants in the city, while almost half a million Marawi residents are internally displaced. Father Suganob arrived in the . . . Read More

Filipino priest Teresito Suganob free after 4 months as hostage

September 18, 2017 Philippines Abu Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Islamic extremism, Marawi, Maute, Mindanao, Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, Teresito Suganob

Fr. Teresito “Chito” Suganob in a still taken from a video shortly after his release.

Catholic Filipino priest Teresito “Chito” Suganob is finally free, having been held hostage by Islamic State-linked militants for almost four months in the war-torn city of Marawi. According to The New York Times, the priest was rescued late on Saturday (16 September) by the Philippines military, as it moved closer . . . Read More

Philippines rejects hostage deal with Islamist militants

September 13, 2017 Philippines Abu Sayyaf, Marawi, Mindanao, Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, Teresito Suganob

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has rejected an offer by Islamic State-linked militants to exchange hostages for a safe passage out of the southern city of Marawi, which the militants have besieged since May. It is thought that Filipino priest Teresito “Chito” Suganob is being offered as part of the deal, . . . Read More

Three months on, Islamists still hold Christian hostages, as Marawi residents start to rebuild

August 29, 2017 Philippines Islamic State, Manila, Marawi, Maute, Mindanao, Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, Teresito Suganob

More than three months after it first attacked the city of Marawi in the southern Philippines, the Maute terrorist group is on the run, while still apparently holding 46 hostages, including Catholic priest Teresito “Chito” Suganob and 13 children. Almost half a million Marawi residents are displaced as a result . . . Read More

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