Pictured: Fr. Chito Suganob Taken Hostage By MUSLIMS In Marawi City

CBCP confirms Maute abduction of priest, other parish staffers 

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 24) — The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) confirmed a priest based in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur has been taken hostage by the Maute group. This follows the clash between the government forces and the terror group that started on Tuesday, which has resulted in the death of a policeman and two troopers.CBCP president Archbishop Socrates Villegas said in a statement on Wednesday that members of the terror group forced their way into St. Mary's Cathedral and took Fr. Teresito "Chito" Suganob, along with a few others. "They have threatened to kill the hostages if the government forces unleashed against them are not recalled," Villegas said. Meanwhile, CBCP Public Affairs Office Executive Secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano told CNN Philippines' Balitaan that members of the staff and some parishioners were among those abducted, but confirmed reports of the exact number of hostages are yet to come in. He then cited a report saying a bishop called the Marawi City bishop through phone, but was instead answered by one of the hostage-takers. Source