A public rally will be held tomorrow in the Philippines to demand the release of Irish priest Father Michael Sinnott, who was kidnapped almost a fortnight ago.
Fr Sinnott (79), from Co Wexford, was taken away by speed boat after being abducted from his gated compound in Pagadian City on the island of Mindanao on October 11th.
There are concerns for his health as he needs vital heart medication, which he did not have with him when he was captured.
The Columban Missionaries in the Philippines today dismissed speculation in some media there that Fr Sinnott had died, and said they believed he was safe.
Father Pat O’Donoghue, regional director of the Columban Fathers in the Asian islands, said military sources had confirmed Fr Sinnott was still alive.
“I think it’s important for Mick’s family and those who know him in Ireland to make clear that these rumours are not true at all,” he said. “The military put out a statement saying that he was alive.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin also said the reports from the region were unsubstantiated. Ireland’s ambassador to Singapore Richard O’Brien has remained in Manila to monitor the situation.
More than 1,000 people are expected to take to the city’s streets tomorrow to protest at Fr Sinnott’s capture, Fr O’Donoghue said.
“It [the march] will go down to the place by the sea where Fr Sinnott is supposed to have been put on the boat and taken," he said.
“There is an expectation that people from many of the parishes around the diocese may perhaps come and join this as their way of trying to express their upset at his abduction but also their plea that he would be released and released very quickly.”
Fr Sinnott runs a school for children with hearing difficulties where about 1,000 people turned up to a prayer meeting last weekend.
Although reports from the region last week said Fr Sinnott had been sighted, it was understood no group had yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and it was not known if a ransom demand had been made.
There have been wildly conflicting reports in the area as to where Fr Sinnott is being held and who is holding him. There have been reported sightings of him in numerous areas, and the army is remaining tightlipped on the details of the search.
Fr Sinnott, who turns 80 in December, had a heart by-pass operation four years ago.
Fr O’Donoghue said he believed the kidnappers would have done all in their power to get Fr Sinnott his heart medication.
“It would be in their very best interest to make sure that he is healthy,” he said.
Additional reporting: PA