Chito Soganub
Chito Suganob | |
---|---|
Vicar General of the Roman Catholic |
Fr. Teresito "Chito" Suganob (August 1, 1960
Suganob was a native of Lambunao, Iloilo.[2]
Career
Suganob served as a priest at the Prelature of Marawi which serves both the city of
During Suganob’s early years of service in Marawi as a priest, Muslims were suspicious of the Prelature of Marawi's attempts to establish a dialogue between Muslims and Christians. According to Bishop dela Peña, when the September 11 attacks occurred in the United States, there was a greater need for Muslims to assert Islam as a "religion of peace" and said that this need is an opportunity for Muslims and Christians to "work together". The bishop described the timing of Soganub's arrival in Marawi as "just at the right moment".[3]
Suganob also conducted programs in chaplaincy, education, interfaith dialogue and peace building at the Mindanao State University.[4]
Captivity in Marawi
Amidst a battle between ISIL-linked
He, along with other hostages were fed by the militants with food from grocery stores, but their captors experienced a shortage as fighting increased.[6] The hostages, Suganob included, were forcibly converted to Islam.[7] Suganob also narrated how he was tasked to transport arms for the militants which were to be used against government troops.[8]
According to a self-narrated account relayed to Bishop dela Pena, Suganob along with a Dansalan College teacher who was also taken hostage escaped early morning of September 17, 2017 from their captors and were found by the military who rescued them near the Bato Ali mosque.[9] According to Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Jesus Dureza, his companion and himself were rescued late night of September 16 following a military operation.[10]
President Rodrigo Duterte said that Suganob was not released as a result of backdoor negotiations with militants answering to queries by the media.[11]
Life after escape
Following his escape and rescue, he took a rest from his duties as priest. His programs and services at the Mindanao State University were handled by seconded priests and lay missionaries from the Redemptorist Missionaries in the Philippines, Caritas Cebu, and the Capiz Archdiocesan Social Action Center in Roxas City.[4]
On September 18, 2017, military and defence officials officially presented Suganob to the media at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.[12]
After undergoing trauma healing Soganub was not given a new assignment or did he return to Marawi to continue his missionary work. He spent the later years of his life as a speaker sharing his experience in Marawi as a hostage by the Maute group.[1]
Religious views
Soganub made an effort to respect the way of living of Marawi's Muslim population. He avoided the public display of a crucifix including at the former
After his escape from the Maute, he reaffirmed his belief in good interfaith relations between Muslims and Christians.
The legitimacy of his conversion was dismissed. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong said that forced conversions are prohibited in Islam.[8] Marawi Bishop Dela Pena said there was no confirmation of the conversion. He also added that such cannot be considered a "full conversion" when the act was done under duress and remarked that the Prelature of Marawi had not "abandoned" him.[15]
Personal life
Suganob was reportedly fluent in speaking the
Death
Suganob died from cardiac arrest on July 22, 2020, in his residence in
See also
References
- ^ a b Cortez, Kath (22 July 2020). "Fr. Chito Suganob, Marawi Siege survivor and peace advocate, dies". Davao Today. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "'Catholic priest na hostage ng Maute sa Marawi, buhay pa'" [‘Catholic priest taken hostage by the Maute in Marawi, still alive’]. Bombo Radyo Philippines (in Filipino). Bombo Radyo Iloilo. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ a b c d Esmaquel, Paterno II (9 June 2017). "Chito Soganub: Hostage-priest in Marawi often mistaken for a Muslim". Rappler. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ a b Patinio, Ferdinand (18 September 2017). "Fr. Chito to take break before returning to Church duties". Philippine Canadian Inquirer. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ Diaz, Alex (30 May 2017). "Priest kidnapped by ISIS in Philippines, issues video pleading for his life and hundreds of others". Fox News. Fox News Network, LLC. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Rescued Filipino priest talks of need for religious harmony". The Japan News. The Yomiuri Shimbun. The Associated Press. 20 September 2017. Archived from the original on 19 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ "Maute-ISIS bandits forced captive Catholic priest to convert to Islam". GMA News. NB. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ a b Dagala, Jaymark (19 September 2017). "Father Chito Suganob Pinuwersang Umanib sa Islam—Adiong" [Father Chito Suganob (sic) Forced to Convert into Islam—Adiong]. DWIZ 882 AM (in Filipino). Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ Aurelio, Julie (20 September 2017). "Priest escaped, says bishop of Marawi". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ "Fr. Chito of Marawi rescued from Maute captivity". Vatican Radio. CBCPNews. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ Mangosing, Frances (18 September 2017). "Fr. Soganub freed by military not by negotiators". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ Nepomuceno, Priam (18 September 2017). "Fr. Chito presented to media in Camp Aguinaldo". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ a b Crimmins, Carmel (17 March 2008). "Philippines' Islamic city proud to be different". Reuters. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ Fonbuena, Carmela (19 September 2017). "Marawi priest Chito Soganub speaks of 'one God' for Christians, Muslims". Rappler. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ Esmaquel, Paterno II (19 September 2017). "Marawi bishop can't confirm if Soganub is now Muslim". Rappler. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ "Marawi siege survivor Fr. Chito Suganob dies of cardiac arrest". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
- ^ "Fr. Chito Suganob, Marawi siege survivor, dies". www.ndbcnews.com.ph. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
- ^ "Fr. Chito Soganub, Marawi siege survivor, laid to rest". 3 August 2020.