Priest among hostages taken by Muslim rebels in the Philippines
September 13, 2013
Members of the Moro National Liberation Front, a Muslim rebel group, attempted unsuccessfully to take over a government building in Zamboanga City, the Philippines’ sixth largest, according to CNN.
Among the 160 to 180 hostages taken by the group is Father Michael Ofana, the Fides news agency reported.
“Muslims and Christians today are united in this difficult moment for Zamboanga,” said Father Sebastiano D’Ambra, a priest involved in interreligious dialogue. “This is not a religious war.”
The priest told Fides that the rebel group “felt excluded from the peace talks between the government and the other rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.”
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Philippines troops contain Muslim rebels as Zamboanga siege continues (CNN)
- Violence in Zamboanga: Christians and Muslims in prayer with the displaced. A priest among the kidnapped (Fides)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
