Sinnott sighted with MILF in Lanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Kidnapped Catholic priest Michael Sinnott has been sighted in the custody of a Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander in Lanao del Norte, the military said yesterday.

Quoting intelligence reports, the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command said the Irish missionary was being held by a certain Commander Nasser in Barangay Gamal, Sapad in Lanao del Norte.

At Malacañang, presidential economic spokesman Gary Olivar assured the Columban Missionaries, to which Sinnott belongs, that the Armed Forces and police are doing everything to rescue Sinnott.

“It cannot be helped that our security forces will lead and be on the frontlines of any rescue operation because they know the situation on the ground, the balance of forces and how his abductors think,” he said.

“It’s not that we are rejecting whatever help other countries, including the US, can give to help resolve the situation but our security forces would have to take the lead in this (situation).”

Barangay Gamal is reportedly located in the highest mountain of Sapad, considered one of the most depressed areas in Lanao del Norte.

Nasser used to be based in Sapad but has since moved to other areas to evade pursuing troops.

Sinnott was said to have been passed on to Nasser’s band after he was snatched by MILF commander Latip Jamat and his men. – Edith Regalado, Roel Pareño, Paolo Romero, James Mananghaya