KIDNAPPED Columban priest Michael “Mick” Sinnott may be an instant celebrity and news about his abduction is known the world over but someone more prominent casted a shadow over him.
GMA-7, in a news report published dated Nov. 14, said Sinnot’s kidnappers decided free him “as early as possible because they wanted to catch Manny Pacquiao's fight with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto,” which was scheduled last Sunday.
The boxing champ from Mindanao knocked down Cotto twice and turned his face into a bloody mess before finally stopping him at 55 seconds by TKO in the 12th round at the MGM Grand Garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Your freedom is our freedom. We don’t want to be here for a long time, too. And we want to watch Pacquiao's fight,” Sinnott quoted his kidnappers.
Sinnott said his abductors also found it strenuous to bring along somebody slow and finds it difficult to take care of an elderly priest, thus they decided to free him early.
He added that he was still recuperating from his open-heart surgery the day he was abducted.
“With my age and condition, they really don’t want to hold me longer. I am old, and I had a hard time walking,” the cleric said.
Sinnott’s statements contradicted earlier speculations which said that the priest’s liberty was timed for the Nov. 12 arrival of US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
Governor Aurora Cerilles, herself, said in a meeting with the press the day Sinnott found freedom that the priest’s release “was just timely with Sec. Clinton’s visit.”
Cerilles likewise said that what happened was a rescue operation between the military and in coordination with the MILF and no money was involved.
Sinnott, coordinator of Hangop Kabataan Foundation located in San Jose District, this city, was snatched by armed men last Oct. 11 and freed one month and one day later.
Sinnott said he wanted to remain in Pagadian if his superiors would allow. “I hope to stay in Mindanao. My plan is to continue as usual. I don’t know if that’s possible,” Sinnott told Manila reporters.
Meanwhile, Columban superior Fr. Patrick O’Donoghue wrote his impressions on Sinnott in his blog dated Nov. 15.
“Fr Mick Sinnott continues to amaze us. He is looking better every day and is in good form despite the fact that he has hardly rested since his release. He had no sleep on Wednesday night as he travelled to freedom (which included a long sea journey),” he said.
O’Donoghue added that he was impressed with Sinnott handling all the long hours of successive interviews and press conference on the day he arrived in Manila.
“Father Mick never once objected. Even when I tried to curtail some, he always insisted he was willing to talk to whoever was looking for him. One of the things that I am again aware of is the impact that Father Mick has on many of those who come to interview him. His authenticity is powerful,” the priest went on.
“For now, we continue to give thanks to God that, despite living in really basic conditions, Father Mick suffered no ill health, no infections, no aches or pains. That in itself is a miracle. Let us thank our Blessed Mother also for his safe return, but let us continue to ask her to secure the release of all those who are still in their captivity, wherever they may be,” O’Donoghue concluded.
REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA
