By Divina Suson/PNA
ILIGAN CITY — The Catholic priest who was taken hostage by Islamic State-inspired Maute terrorists during the 2017 Marawi siege said he was optimistic the incoming plebiscite of Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) will turn out peaceful.
Rev. Father Teresito “Chito” Suganob underscored the importance of voter education, saying this will strengthen and protect the result of the plebiscite from groups that do not seek peace in Mindanao.
Voters, he said, should be properly be informed on why they will be voting for “Yes” or “No” during the plebiscite, which will determine the composition of the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“I am praying for the success of the Bangsamoro Organic Law because everybody is affected whatever the outcome. If this turns out successful, this could mean an end to armed conflict in Mindanao,” he said in the dialect in an interview on Saturday.
Suganob is the chairman of Pakigdait, Inc., one of the civil society organizations in Lanao del Norte that help educate voters on the BOL provisions.
During the Black Nazarene’s “Traslacion” on January 9 in Cagayan de Oro, Suganob said he prayed that BOL would succeed in its intention to give the Bangsamoro greater autonomy and chart its own destiny.
The Commission on Elections set the plebiscite for the areas in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on January 21 while the schedule for the non-ARMM areas will be on February 6.
Soganub was taken hostage by the extremists for more than three months when war between the government and the terrorists erupted in Marawi City on May 23, 2017.
The parish priest of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Marawi City recalled the hardships he and his fellow hostages went through while in the hands of the hostage takers.
It was hard for him, he said, to follow orders from the terrorists such as being made to work on improvised explosive devices. Still, he said he chose to comply for fear of his life and that of the other hostages.
When he was able to escape and was eventually rescued by the military, Soganub said, he realized he has still mission in life.
“I want peace in Mindanao, lahat ng tao sa (the people of) Mindanao gusto nila ay (they want) peace, Moro man o Christian,” Soganub said.
