Kidnapped Columban priest Fr. Michael "Mick" Sinnot will soon end his lonely vigil and see freedom once a gentleman's agreement will be fixed between those who negotiated for the priest's release and his captors.
This information was taken from Msgr. Gilbert Hingone, appointed spokesperson of the Pagadian Diocese, who declared in a news report filed by GMA-7, that they have already established contact with Sinnott's abductors.
This announcement was repeated by Hingone in another interview with a local radio yesterday, almost three weeks since Sinnott was snatched from his home in Gatas District.
Last week, Sinnott was rumored to have suffered a heart attack and died.
In the said interview with the rector, he said that Sinnot's kidnappers opened a negotiation with their emissary for the priest's liberty. However, whatever was asked in exchange, Hingone declined to say.
Hingone likewise made public the elderly priest's present state of health, saying, "he is getting weaker" but very much alive.
"Yes, he's alive and we hope that in the next three days negotiations will progress and Fr. Sinnott will be released," he said.
However, Hingone would not reveal who are those responsible in abducting Sinnott as he said doing so "may endanger the negotiations."
In previous reports, military sources have pinpointed to the abductors' lair as somewhere in the jungle at the tri-boundary of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Salvador and Sultan Gumander, all in Lanao del Norte.
Military troops are at present barricading the area where Sinnott is being held to prevent the kidnappers from spiriting him out to Basilan Island or hand him over to the Abu Sayyaf.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which was initially suspected of seizing Sinnott has created a task force aimed at helping the government for his safe and immediate recovery.
Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesperson, said: "We are helping the Philippine government recover Father Sinnott and this after EU ambassadors sought the MILF help in recovering the Irish priest."
Also, MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim declared that as a matter of policy, the MILF is obliged to exert its best efforts to help for the safe and immediate recovery of Father Sinnot.
"This incident requires all conscience-guided people and those with true faith in God to extend every help for his immediate freedom," Ebrahim said.
It was learned that several concerned individuals have earlier approached Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar and volunteered to deliver packed provisions and medicines to the kidnapped priest.
Cabajar, a member of the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) created by Gov. Aurora Cerilles, is in-charge with the delivery of the medicines to Sinnott. He lately disclosed that nothing has been heard whether Sinnot received the supplies or not.
October 23, a P200,000 bounty was offered by the City Government to help police and military locate Sinnott, who had several heart bypass surgeries in the past and badly needs his medication.
Meanwhile, a fellow Columban priest based in Hong Kong wrote something in his web blog, telling somewhat his own reflection on Sinnott's abduction.
"He spoke of the damage done by illegal logging in the mountains, which only leads to tragedy, as when the rains come, the mud slides down the hill and the people pay with their lives, livelihoods and property. He said because this type of corruption permeates Philippine society from top to bottom, nothing remains sacred and no one can be safe," he said.
"Father Mick's kidnap is a result of this," the priest added.
MICHAEL MEDINA
BLOG: www.micmedina.tk
EMAIL: 130903@gmail.com
CONTACT: +639185304257
"Qui vult decipi decipiatur"
(If a man wants to be deceived, let him be deceived)
This information was taken from Msgr. Gilbert Hingone, appointed spokesperson of the Pagadian Diocese, who declared in a news report filed by GMA-7, that they have already established contact with Sinnott's abductors.
This announcement was repeated by Hingone in another interview with a local radio yesterday, almost three weeks since Sinnott was snatched from his home in Gatas District.
Last week, Sinnott was rumored to have suffered a heart attack and died.
In the said interview with the rector, he said that Sinnot's kidnappers opened a negotiation with their emissary for the priest's liberty. However, whatever was asked in exchange, Hingone declined to say.
Hingone likewise made public the elderly priest's present state of health, saying, "he is getting weaker" but very much alive.
"Yes, he's alive and we hope that in the next three days negotiations will progress and Fr. Sinnott will be released," he said.
However, Hingone would not reveal who are those responsible in abducting Sinnott as he said doing so "may endanger the negotiations."
In previous reports, military sources have pinpointed to the abductors' lair as somewhere in the jungle at the tri-boundary of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Salvador and Sultan Gumander, all in Lanao del Norte.
Military troops are at present barricading the area where Sinnott is being held to prevent the kidnappers from spiriting him out to Basilan Island or hand him over to the Abu Sayyaf.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which was initially suspected of seizing Sinnott has created a task force aimed at helping the government for his safe and immediate recovery.
Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesperson, said: "We are helping the Philippine government recover Father Sinnott and this after EU ambassadors sought the MILF help in recovering the Irish priest."
Also, MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim declared that as a matter of policy, the MILF is obliged to exert its best efforts to help for the safe and immediate recovery of Father Sinnot.
"This incident requires all conscience-guided people and those with true faith in God to extend every help for his immediate freedom," Ebrahim said.
It was learned that several concerned individuals have earlier approached Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar and volunteered to deliver packed provisions and medicines to the kidnapped priest.
Cabajar, a member of the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) created by Gov. Aurora Cerilles, is in-charge with the delivery of the medicines to Sinnott. He lately disclosed that nothing has been heard whether Sinnot received the supplies or not.
October 23, a P200,000 bounty was offered by the City Government to help police and military locate Sinnott, who had several heart bypass surgeries in the past and badly needs his medication.
Meanwhile, a fellow Columban priest based in Hong Kong wrote something in his web blog, telling somewhat his own reflection on Sinnott's abduction.
"He spoke of the damage done by illegal logging in the mountains, which only leads to tragedy, as when the rains come, the mud slides down the hill and the people pay with their lives, livelihoods and property. He said because this type of corruption permeates Philippine society from top to bottom, nothing remains sacred and no one can be safe," he said.
"Father Mick's kidnap is a result of this," the priest added.
MICHAEL MEDINA
BLOG: www.micmedina.tk
EMAIL: 130903@gmail.com
CONTACT: +639185304257
"Qui vult decipi decipiatur"
(If a man wants to be deceived, let him be deceived)