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Priest’s kidnappers
area cordoned off
GOVERNMENT forces have cordoned off the location of the kidnappers of 78-year-old Irish priest Michael Sinnott who was snatched at his residence in Pagadian City on Sunday night.
Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, commander of the Western Mindanao Command, said the suspects and the victims are now contained after at least three sightings by informants. He would not pinpoint the area.
"Since yesterday up to now, we have three reported sightings. We cannot disclose (the place) but the effort of the AFP and the PNP is to contain them in that particular area," Dolorfino said.
He also said four Navy vessels have also put up another "cordon" from the sea.
He said the military operation is in coordination with the PNP’s Task Force Sinnott which was formed during last Monday’s meeting of the provincial Crisis Management Committee chaired by Gov. Aurora Cerilles.
Officials have yet to pinpoint the suspects’ group affiliation but AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said there was the high probability that they are members of the Abu Sayyaf, a terrorist group involved in high-profile kidnappings and bombings.
The government is coordinating with the joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities in Mindanao to facilitate the immediate and safe rescue of Sinnott.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the kidnapping was a "distraction" since the military is currently involved in rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in Luzon following the onslaught of "Ondoy" and "Pepeng".
At least six men seized Sinnott from the Columban House at Gatas district in Pagadian City. Reports said the priest was strolling in the garden when he was kidnapped.
Sinnott was then forced into a getaway vehicle which was found burned at the Sta. Lucia district.
Dolorfino would not say the exact number of the people holding Sinnott but said their number will definitely increase from the original six.
"Definitely, they have companions, they have their own networks. At present, we are building up our intelligence operations to identify the key personalities" he said.
Allan June Molde, spokesman of the provincial Crisis Management Committee, said the suspects have yet to contact authorities.
When asked if the crisis committee will consider paying ransom to gain the freedom of Sinnott, Molde said: "I think the demand should be made first...I cannot give much comment on that because there are no negotiations going on, there are no demands. They (suspects) are silent."
Molde said the crisis committee is worried over the kidnapping because Sinnott had undergone quadruple heart bypass.
He said he talked to the Columban’s regional director, Pat O’Donoghue, who described the kidnapping as "the worst thing that ever happened. We cannot do anything but to wait." "And that is what we are doing now," added Molde.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is banking on the delicate health condition of Sinnott as a reason for him to be released as soon as possible by his abductors.
CBCP spokesman Msgr. Pedro Quitorio noted that Sinnott’s health was unlike that of Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi, who was kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Zamboanga Sibugay in June 2007 and was released 39 days later.
"Unlike Fr. Bossi na kayang-kaya ang katawan. Ito (Sinnott) hindi," Quitorio said. – Victor Reyes, Jocelyn Montemayor and Gerald Naval
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