THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is still verifying the supposed video showing a Catholic priest currently held hostage by the Maute terror group, AFP spokesperson Restituto Padilla said Wednesday.
Padilla was referring to the video of abducted priest Teresito Suganob who pleaded with the military to stop its offensive against the Maute.
The AFP official said he believed Suganob made the video under duress.
"Sa ganitong mga pagkakataon, lalo na sila'y (Maute group) naiipit na at fighting for survival, ang lahat ng paraan para makatakas diyan ay gagawin nila kasi nga may direct consequences na gawain tulad niyan," said Padilla.
"So hindi nalalayo po na may ilan silang pinanghahawakan na sibilyan na gagamitin nilang paraan para maging bargaining chip, kasama na po si Father diyan,” he added.
In the viral video, Suganob pleaded with the military to stop its offensive against the Maute for the safety of the hostages.
"Mr. President, I was taken as a prisoner of war together with some one female professor of the Mindanao State University (MSU), two lady church worker, two male teachers of the Dansalan College Foundation Incorporated, and five female teachers of the Dansalan College Incorporated," Suganob said in the video.
"Mr. President, we are in the midst of this war. We are asking your help to please give what your enemies are asking for. They're simply not asking for anything, just to withdraw your forces away from Lanao del Sur and Marawi City and to stop airstrikes, your air attacks and your cannons," he added.
Suganob said he and 200 others, including kids and Christian settlers, are being held as "prisoners of war" in the strife-torn Marawi City.
Suganob pleaded to President Rodrigo Duterte to consider the hostages, as the enemies "are not asking for anything” but for the military and police forces to leave the place peacefully, withdraw the attacks against them and to not to use violence in order to neutralize them.
"Mr. President, you are from Mindanao, you know the problem. I hope Mr. President, you understand them. I am also saying these things Mr. President because you know the history, they have the right to live here, they have the right that their laws be respected...Mr. President, you cannot use force and violence because they have the commitment, they will die for this, they are ready to die for this," he said.
"Do not be happy, Mr. President, that we are the collateral damage of war. We're already victims of heavy gunfires for seven days. Mr. President, if you want me to kneel before you just to have your heart in favor of our families who are crying out there in different places...Mr. President, I will do that," he added.
Bishop Edwin Dela Pena, prelature of Marawi Diocese, has confirmed that it was Suganob who was speaking in the video.
But Padilla urged the media to be discerning when reporting such matter as it clearly shows that the group is using the video as propaganda to make their way out of the situation.
On May 23, a gunfight between the Maute terror group and the government troops ensued in Marawi amid the operations against the bandits' leader Isnilon Hapilon who was sighted the area along with his followers.
President Duterte placed the entire Mindanao under martial law after the Maute burned several establishments, including a church and government buildings and held at least 200 people as hostages, including Suganob who serves as the vicar general of St. Mary's Cathedral in Marawi City.
The military, however, said it is yet to locate the hostages and determine their exact number.
As of May 30, 19 civilians were killed and 89 from the enemy side.
Padilla said 960 civilians were rescued amid the firefight, while 91 firearms were recovered. (VoxPop Philippines)
