Kidnappers free Irish priest
November 11, 2009 9:49 pm
MANILA, Nov. 12 — Irish priest Michael Sinnott was released Thursday dawn by his captors about a month after his kidnapping.
Western Mindanao Command Chief Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino said Sinnott was turned over to government peace negotiators by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front task force tasked to secure Sinnott's freedom.
The turn over took place at the Sangali Fish Port in Zamboanga City around 4:20 am. He said Sinnott was weak but has grown stronger after he was formally over to government hands.
"This is a positive development because they (MILF) did their job under the ceasefire to interdict criminal elements," Dolorfino said.
He, however, could not say how the MILF got hold of Sinnott or where the rebels secured the 79-year old Columban priest.
MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said the MILF fighters convinced the kidnappers to turn over Sinnott. He declined to give more details how they secured Sinnott's freedom
"We imposed our 'morale force', prompting the kidnappers to turn over Fr Sinnott. There was no firefight that happened," said Iqbal, stressing the kidnappers do not belong to the MILF as alleged earlier by local government Secretary Ronaldo Puno. (PNA) V3/VR
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