TWO groups interested in getting Fr. Michael “Mick” Sinnot back home safely have each declared their strong position regarding the ongoing discussions aimed in attaining freedom for the kidnapped priest.
A press statement issued by Fr. Patrick O’Donoghue of the Missionary Society of St. Columban (MSSC) dated Nov. 1 sternly said that their congregation “does not pay ransom.”
“And we believe that it should not be paid,” O’Donoghue added, reiterating his earlier call to “all people of good-will who may have ways of influencing those who are still holding Fr. Mick to continue their efforts to enable the abductors to see that the best and simplest way forward is for them to now release Fr. Sinnott without further delay.”
The Columban superior declared that he has already seen the video sent by Sinnott’s abductors and declared his happiness of seeing his fellow priest still alive and able to take some of his medication.
A $2 million ransom has been asked by the kidnappers for Sinnott’s freedom, it was learned.
“However, this video is now eight days old. This past week has been very wet here in Mindanao and living in the conditions that he described can only have had an adverse effect on his fragile health. I hope that he continues to be well,” he said.
Meanwhile, Moro National Liberation Front (MILF) Civil-Military Affairs Chief IEid Kabalu said it welcomed negotiations for Sinnott’s release although “launching a rescue operation should be a primary option.”
Kabalu was referring to an earlier proposal put up by the Zamboanga del Sur Crisis Management Committee (CMC) created by Gov. Aurora Cerilles to explore more alternatives for a possible compromise with the group currently holding the 79-year old Irish missionary priest.
Last week, the MILF has declared that it is validating information that Sinnott and his captors are in the surrounding area between Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.
Two persons who claimed to be involved in the delivery of medicines and others provisions to Sinnott even told a group of local media that the Columban cleric’s abductors are holed up in the mountain areas of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, specifically in Sitios Bulandosa, Tuka Alaw, Katipunan, Rombanon and Camangas.
But this information was belied by Lanao del Norte Information Officer Lyndon Calica who said the names of the places mentioned are “non-existing.”
More on Kabalu, he stressed that the MILF tends to pick the option of launching a rescue operation “because getting into negotiation is like pampering 'yang mga tarantadong 'yan,” referring to the priest’s kidnappers, who he refers to as a band of lost commandos, “lesser in numbers but equipped with high-powered firearms.”
The MILF official said he is also taking into account Sinnott’s health condition and that entertaining another option aside from rescue might further lengthen his captivity. He, however, said that for the meantime their group will just wait for suggestions from the CMC.
This morning, the MILF Central Committee published in its website a retort to DILG Sec. Ronaldo Puno’s statement linking the rebel group to Sinnott’s kidnapping.
Khaled Musa, deputy chairman of the MILF Committee on Information, described Puno’s statement as an attempt to sabotage the MILF efforts to help rescue the priest and put into bad light the very reputation of the very unit tasked by the MILF central leadership to undertake the rescue mission.
“We suspect that Puno has other motives like sabotaging the peace process and perhaps monetary consideration,” he said, adding the kidnappers were already demanding $2 million for the priest which will eventually be ‘coursed through the DILG’,” Musa said.
The MILF said that the Commander Aloy Asree referred to by Puno in television news reports is the head of the MILF 113rd Base Command, which has jurisdiction over most of Zamboanga Peninsula.
Asree and his men, the MILF website added, “are already on the ground to determine the whereabouts of the abducted priest and to jump off if necessary, taking utmost consideration of his safety.”
REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA