Sinnott ransom talks on?

MANILA, Philippines - High-level backdoor negotiations outside the Zamboanga del Sur provincial management crisis committee are going on to discuss the payment of ransom for kidnapped Catholic priest Michael Sinnott.

Obtained information showed that the talks center on an unspecified amount of money demanded by the kidnappers.

However, Father Patrick O’Donoghue, the Philippine head of the Missionary Society of Saint Columban, denied news reports that negotiations were already underway for Sinnott’s freedom.

No group has made contact with them, he added.

O’Donoghue said the identity of Sinnott’s kidnappers remains unknown as no group has made contact.

“We do not know who they are and that is the absolute truth,” he said.

Spearheading the talks is a Metro Manila-based head of a non-government organization upon the request of the international community.

“Fr. Sinnott is alive and parallel efforts are being done to secure his safe release, pero ang pag-uusap ay hindi nangyayari dyan sa Zamboanga Peninsula,” a source said, indicating the negotiation is not taking place in Zamboanga.

When contacted, a military commander involved in operations to rescue Sinnott told The STAR that they have no information on the whereabouts of Sinnott, nor do they have any knowledge of back-channel talks.

“Wala talaga kaming bagong info sa ngayon,” the military commander said. “Kung may nangyayari man na mga usapan hindi rin namin alam dito.”

Earlier, there were indications that the ailing Irish missionary’s health might have taken a turn for the worse after the kidnappers called off a plan to allow an emissary to meet them and the priest.

The 79-year-old priest, who has a long history of heart problems, was seized by gunmen from his mission office in Pagadian city in Zamboanga del Sur on Oct. 11.

Quoting its intelligence network, the military said Sinnott was being kept somewhere in Lanao del Norte.

O’Donoghue welcomed an offer of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to help rescue Sinnott. “We appreciate any offer of help that would enable Mick to safely and speedily be returned,” he said.

“My hope really remains that they will provide for his medical needs. I also hope that compassion will win out and they will allow him to return (to his mission) quickly.”

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said their guerrillas were trying to locate Sinnott’s whereabouts.

“We are closely coordinating with the government crisis committee tasked to handle the kidnapping,” he said.