Two hostages have been rescued in war-torn Marawi City on Saturday night, according to Rear Admiral Rene Medina, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwem).
In a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the two rescued hostages are Catholic priest Fr. Teresito “Chito” Soganub, who released a video in May 2017 urging government forces to cease the aerial bombings in Marawi; and Lordvin Ocopio, a professor from Dansalan College — a Protestant college in Marawi City.
Earlier, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza announced on Facebook that the two were rescued at around 11:00 p.m. on September 16 near the Bato Mosque. This has been the second grand mosque overtaken by government forces.
“The duo revealed (initially to the rescuing troops) that they escaped when their captors had a heavy firefight against the government forces in the said location… And in the course of fleeing, they were identified by the military and they were brought to a safer place” Medina said in the Inquirer report.
