Kidnapped Irish priest said to be injured in Philippines (Roundup)

Oct 14, 2009, 9:10 GMT

   Manila - An Irish Catholic priest abducted by unidentified gunmen in the southern Philippines appeared to be injured, a military commander said Wednesday.

   Major General Ben Dolorfino said Columban missionary Michael Sinnott was seen by military informants 'with blood on his head.'

   'Probably he was hit on his head, but he is alive as far as the information is concerned,' he said.

   Dolorfino said the military was coordinating with the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) amid reports that the 78-year-old priest has been turned over to a commander of the rebel group.

   Sinnott was spotted in areas in Lanao Del Norte provinces that were occupied by MILF forces, he added.

   'The areas have heavy presence of the MILF, so our action now is to transmit this information to the MILF, which has signified their willingness to help recover the priest,' Dolorfino said. 'We are banking on that.'

   Sinnott was abducted Sunday by six unidentified gunmen from the mission's house in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province, 890 kilometres south of Manila.

   Chief Superintendent Angelo Sunglao, a regional police commander, said the kidnappers on Monday turned over Sinnott to a rebel commander in Sultan Naga Dimaporo town in nearby Lanao del Norte province.

   'The victim together with his abductors arrived in the village of Payong in Sultan Naga Dimaporo on Monday morning,' he said. 'The priest was turned over to Latip Jamat, the commander of the MILF's 4th Brigade.'

   Sunglao said Sinnott was now being held in an MILF camp in the boundary of the towns of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Nunungan and Picong.

   MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the central leadership was still verifying the reports, but assured authorities that the rebel group would help recover Sinnot.

   'If it's true that Father Sinnott is already with Commander Latip, then we will turn him over to the proper authorities,' he said.

   Dolorfino said the military has increased the number of troops around the area where Sinnott and his kidnappers were holed up to restrict their movements.

   He said a kidnapping-for-ransom group that has ties with various armed groups was behind the abduction. He added that the boat used by the abductors to escape was owned by a known pirate.

   Sinnott, who underwent a quadruple heart bypass about three years ago, has been working in the strife-torn southern region of Mindanao since 1966. In 1998, he established a school in the area.