Marawi bishop hits destruction of cathedral by Maute  

June 6, 2017

Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Peña condemned the destruction of the St. Mary’s Cathedral by the Maute terror group, saying it is an act of "blasphemy" and "demonic". In an article at CBCP News Tuesday, de la Peña said Catholics have been angered by   destruction as seen in a video released Sunday. “We are angered by what happened. Our faith has really been trampled on,” de la Peña told the official news agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). “That is blasphemy! It’s unacceptable. It’s obvious that their actions are really out of this world. It’s demonic,” he added. Islamic State news agency, Amaq, released the video on Sunday, as the crisis in Marawi entered its third week. The video showed some members of the Maute terror group yelling “Allahu Akbar!” while smashing religious icons, tearing up images of Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and burning the church. The bishop said they received “raw intelligence report” the Maute attackers will do it but “we didn’t take it seriously because for us it was unthinkable that it’s going to happen.” Gunmen are also holding Marawi priest Father Chito Suganob and other persons hostage. DMS .