'Sinnott still alive'

DUBLIN – The elderly Irish priest kidnapped in southern Philippines almost three weeks ago is still alive and has received the medicine he needs, the Sinn Fein party said yesterday.

Gerry Kelly, a junior minister with the Sinn Fein republican party in Northern Ireland, said his sources in the Philippines suggested Fr. Michael Sinnott had received the treatment he needed for his heart problems.

Sinnott, who has worked in the Philippines for decades, was taken at gunpoint from his mission office in Pagadian City on Oct. 11, just two months before his 80th birthday.

Kelly said he had been in touch with contacts in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has offered to help in the search for the priest.

“They know that he is alive and in as good health as he can be. I suppose where there is life there is hope,” Kelly told Ireland’s RTE state radio.

“My understanding is that he has received the medicine that he needs. He has his medication,” he said.

In the Philippines, Western Mindanao Command chief Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino declared that the operation to rescue Sinnott from captivity would now depend on the effort of all stakeholders in the hostage crisis, including the MILF.

Dolorfino issued the statement to assuage and dispel doubts on the efforts to spring free the 79-year old priest.

Dolorfino noted the approval of the Zamboanga del Sur Crisis Management Committee (CMC) led by Gov. Aurora Ceriles, allowing the MILF to participate in locating the priest and the kidnappers.

Dolorfino said the MILF would only be allowed to assist the CMC and the authorities to seek the release of Sinnott.

“The decision of the CMC was a manifestation of our democratic system and constitutional principle of supremacy of civilian authority over the military... I believe Fr. Sinnott’s kidnapping case can be best resolved through the collaboration of all stakeholders,” Dolorfino said.

Dolorfino also allayed fears of possible “misencounter” between government troops and the MILF looking for the priest.

The MILF confirmed military reports that Sinnott and his kidnappers are still holed up in the jungle area between the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.

Sinnott, who had been recuperating from open-heart surgery, was snatched by suspected pirates from his home at the Missionary Society of Saint Columban compound in Pagadian City on Oct. 11.

Authorities suspected a group of MILF renegades is now holding Sinnott after he was turned over by a group of pirates led by a certain Guingona Samal.

Dolorfino said the joint ceasefire committee would monitor the extent of participation by the MILF in the hostage crisis.

“There is an interim guideline to serve as reference for the MILF participation,” Dolorfino said.

The MILF had earlier deployed a company-size of its forces to search for Sinnott and his kidnappers. – Roel Pareño