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Priest abducted by terrorists in the Philippines pleads for ceasefire for fear of being used as 'human shield'

Members of Philippine Marines walk next to an armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) as they advance their position in Marawi City, Philippines May 28, 2017. | Reuters/Erik De Castro

A Catholic priest who was abducted by an Islamic terror group in the Philippines has called on the government to stop the military offensive against his abductors for fears that he and the other hostages might be used as "human shields."

In a video posted on Facebook, Rev. Teresito "Chito" Suganob, vicar general of the Prelature of Marawi, pleaded to President Rodrigo Duterte to consider the lives of the hostages and stop the airstrikes in Marawi City on the island of Mindanao.

Suganob, who is seen in the video standing in front of ruined homes in Marawi, said that the terrorists threatened to execute the hostages unless the Philippine government stops the military offensive against them.

"Mr. President, please consider us," the priest pleaded. "They don't ask for anything... they just ask that you leave this place peacefully," he added.

Suganob, along with a dozen worshippers and church workers, were kidnapped last week after the military raided the hideout of Islamist commander Isnilon Hapilon, who leads the Abu Sayyaf militant group. In retaliation, the group, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, swept into Marawi city, burning buildings, raising ISIS flags, and killing at least two police officers.

The vicar general said that the terrorist group is holding 240 more hostages, including women and children.

"Mr. President, if you want me to kneel before you just to knock your heart in favour of our families who are crying out there in different places, for our relatives... we will do that," Suganob said, noting that the militants were ready to "die for their religion."

"Mr. President, you can't use force and violence because they have the commitment they will die for this," he went on to say.

The military said that the terrorists include foreign fighters and local gunmen who want to establish a regional branch of ISIS.

The death toll since Tuesday last week has risen to nearly 100, which includes 16 civilians, 61 militants, 11 soldiers and four police officers, Fox News reported, citing The Associated Press.

Duterte has declared martial law on the island of Mindanao, which includes Marawi, in an attempt to restore order in the country.

Military chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Ano claimed that soldiers have already taken control of 70 percent of Marawi, where the militants have been fending off the army for a week.

"They wanted to show the world that there is an ISIS branch here which can inflict the kind of violence that has been seen in Syria and Iraq," said Ano.