Troops sent to Lanao to go after Irish priest's kidnappers

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  – A division of government troops has been deployed to isolate the kidnappers of Fr. Michael Sinnott, who were spotted in a jungle area spanning the Lanao provinces in Central Mindanao.

Western Mindanao Command chief Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino said troops have been sent to prevent the kidnappers from slipping out of the area known to be controlled by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Dolorfino said a notorious pirate leader carried out the snatch and turned over the elderly Irish priest to the MILF.

“We have identified the kidnapper of the priest as Guingona Samal, a notorious pirate leader in Zamboanga peninsula,” Dolorfino said.

He said Samal, alias Commander Inggo, was also the owner of the getaway boat that the kidnappers used.

Six armed gunmen kidnapped the 79-year-old priest from his home at the Missionary Society of Saint Columban compound in Pagadian City on Sunday night in what appeared to be a well-organized operation.

Although the MILF denied having a hand in the kidnapping of Sinnott, Dolorfino did not rule out the possibility that some rogue elements of the Muslim secessionist group participated in the snatch.

Dolorfino said the military was verifying intelligence reports that Samal may have passed Sinnott on to a local commander of the MILF in the area, a certain Latip Jamad, a commander of the MILF’s 113rd Base Command.

Sources revealed Jamad had threatened to kidnap Sinnott unless the high-powered firearms seized from them by the military during an encounter were returned.

Sources added that Jamad sent the demand by text message to Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Aurora Cerilles and Zamboanga Sur Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar.

Dolorfino said the kidnappers were sighted in the jungle area around the towns of Sultan Naga Dimaporo and Nunungan in Lanao del Norte, and in Pikong, Lanao del Sur.

He said civilian informants saw the priest and his armed captors last Oct. 12 in Barangay Payong, Sultan Naga Dimaporo.

“These areas have heavy presence of the MILF,” Dolorfino pointed out.

Following the series of sightings, troops have been sent to the area to set up roadblocks to prevent the kidnappers from slipping through.

“That is to prevent transfer to other areas, the dangerous course of action of the kidnappers is to go to Basilan or Sulu so we are trying to prevent that at sea or on land,” he said.

Western Mindanao Police director Chief Superintendent Angel Sunglao said offensive operations against the kidnappers have been put on hold.

“The military and police operations have been on hold because it might endanger the life of the victim,” Sunglao said.

He said police units have established perimeter checkpoints in the area to help government troops locate the kidnappers.

Dolorfino added they have informed the MILF, through the joint ceasefire committee, of any developments surrounding the kidnapping of Sinnott. The MILF said they would help the government locate Sinnott.

“We will help look for Fr. Sinnott. It would be good if government would officially ask us. But even if government will not ask us, still we would help for humanitarian reasons,” MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said.

Kabalu stressed the MILF has an obligation to help in such crisis situation. Dolorfino said they are banking on the commitment of the MILF to help in the recovery of Sinnott.

Regional military spokesman Maj. Ramon David Hontiveros said the series of sightings indicated Sinnott is “still alive.”

“We have very good leads. The case is still under the Westmincom area of responsibility,” Hontiveros said.

“We appeal to the localities to help us in recovering the priest. He doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment. The man is old and he deserves respect with his work in helping the people,” he added. –With Edith Regalado, James Mananghaya, Cecille Suerte Felipe