IRISH MISSIONARY Fr Michael Sinnott remains in captivity nearly four weeks after his abduction in the southern Philippines, but efforts to secure his release are becoming bogged down in political bickering between the army and Muslim rebels.
The military says local leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Mindanao are behind Fr Sinnott’s abduction in Pagadian,. It wants the front to force Aloy Al Asree, a commander of more than 3,000 men in the group’s 113th base command, to deny charges he is involved. The front is outraged at the accusation.
The kidnappers have released a video in which Fr Sinnott spoke, but they have not revealed their identities. It appears that Fr Sinnott (79) is being held in the open and his order, the Society of St Columbans, is worried about his health, as he had heart bypass surgery four years ago.
Both Manila and the Columbans have rejected a $2 million (€1.35 million) ransom demand.
Armed forces chief Gen Victor Ibrado told local media yesterday that the Philippine military might need to mount rescue operations to ensure the fast and safe release of the priest from the hands of his captors.
Gen Ibrado said he would follow requirements of the local crisis management committee, headed by Zambonga del Sur governor Aurora Cerilles, but said the committee had made no breakthrough in talks since the abduction of the Wexfordman on October 11th.
“We’re taking cue from it [the committee]. If they feel that there is no hope in the negotiations, then all we want is a signal from them so that we can conduct rescue operations,” Gen Ibrado told GMA News.
There were thousands of soldiers and policemen stationed in the area awaiting orders, he said, around the Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte areas where Fr Sinnott and his captors are believed to be located.
The 12,000-strong Islamic Liberation Front has been waging a rebellion for an independent Islamic state in the southern third of this mainly Catholic country since 1978.
It signed a ceasefire with Manila in 2003, but peace talks were suspended last year when its commanders launched deadly raids across Mindanao. Thousands have died and half a million people have lost their homes in the fighting.
The kidnapping has made reviving peace talks between the government and the front difficult.
Government press secretary Cerge Remonde said the best way for the front to prove it was not involved was to help secure Fr Sinnott’s release, rather than calling for the government to retract statements linking it to the kidnapping.