COTABATO CITY , Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) yesterday angrily rejected accusations that it was behind the abduction of an elderly Irish priest and threatened to stop helping in the search for him.
MILF chief peace negotiator Mohager Iqbal said accusations of the MILF’s role in the kidnapping of Michael Sinnott, 79, were unacceptable and could affect pending peace talks with the government.
“We are now reaching out to our counterparts in the government to stop all these accusations,” Iqbal told reporters after Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno blamed the rebel group for the Irishman’s abduction.
“If Puno does not stop, we are considering stopping our help to the rescue effort,” he said.
But MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said they are looking into Puno’s assertion that Commander Aloy al Asree, chief of the front’s 113th Base Command, has taken custody of Sinnott from the group that snatched him Oct. 11 from their convent in Pagadian City.
“We are checking on it, we do not deny Asree is one of our field commanders,” he said, apparently reacting to Puno’s claim.
“I would like to stress that the MILF, as a matter of policy, does not allow its members to be involved in kidnapping,” Kabalu emphasized.
The military and police, however, have tagged al Asree in previous kidnapping incidents, including that of Italian priest Giuseppe Pierantoni in Dimataling town, Zamboanga del Sur in 2001.
Pierantoni was freed a year later.
Kabalu said the MILF is initiating means of securing Sinnott’s release through the joint ceasefire committee.
“There are existing bilateral mechanisms on the ground that govern our effort of helping rescue Fr. Sinnott,” he said.
MILF’s sincerity in question
Allan June Molde, crisis management committee (CMC) spokesperson has appealed for more prayers for Sinnott’s safety even as he expressed deep concern over the health condition of the Irish missionary.
He also expressed hope that the MILF would show sincerity on its earlier pronouncement that it will help rescue the kidnapped priest.
“We are still on a wait and see stance for now,” he said.
But Molde said there are indications that the kidnappers belong to the MILF.
This, after the military confirmed it has identified the exact location of Sinnott.
Molde also said there is no need for the MILF to employ large forces in the rescue of Sinnott. He said they cut communications with the MILF after Puno rejected any offer of the rebel group.
“We don’t need military operation to secure the safe release of Fr. Sinnott with all these indications. What’s the point of deploying a large number of forces?” Molde said, referring to the deployment of MILF company-size troops to help secure the release.
Maj. Benjamin Dolorfino, chief of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), on the other hand, confirmed that they already have knowledge on those involved in Sinnott’s abduction.
“We know already who were involved but we cannot mention yet their identities as it will preempt our ongoing operations,” Dolorfino said.
But the MILF lashed back at Puno and told him to “shut his mouth” and instead help work out Sinnott’s release.
Khaled Musa, deputy chairman of the MILF Committee on Information, said Puno’s assertion could be meant to sabotage the government’s peace overture with the front.
“We suspect that Puno has other motives like sabotaging the peace process and perhaps monetary considerations,” Musa said in a statement posted on the rebels’ website.
He said Puno has always been blaming the MILF whenever kidnappings are perpetrated in the South. – With Roel Pareño