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AFP downplays rumor of abducted Irish priest’s ‘death’

By Mario J. Mallari

10/23/2009

The military and the provincial crisis management committee overseeing the search and rescue operations for kidnapped Irish priest Fr. Michael Sinnot have dismissed as “rumors” reports that he had died of heart failure two days after he was abducted in Zamboanga del Sur.

“These are mere rumors but we are verifying it (information),” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said.

Unconfirmed reports circulated yesterday saying the 79-year-old Columban missionary died of heart failure two days after he was snatched by six armed men, led by local pirate Guingona Samal, from the House of Columban in Gatas District in Pagadian City last Oct. 11.

Sinnot had reportedly undergone heart bypass operations in 2004 and 2005.

The Zamboanga del Sur Crisis Management Committee (CMC) also vehemently denied that the Irish priest had died in captivity.

Zamboanga del Sur CMC spokesman

Allan June Molde said there was no truth to allegations that Father Sinnott died in the hands of his captors.

“As far as the CMS is concerned, such information is negative,” he stressed, adding “if true, his body (Sinnott) would have been recovered. But there is none.”

Both the military and the crisis panel said there has been no established communication line between authorities and the group now holding the Irish missionary priest and there had been no proof of life.

“This is the 11th day now and no contact has been established,” Molde said.

But Brawner stressed the military still believes the priest is being kept in the general areas of Lanao provinces.

He added troops are maintaining their containment and cordon operations in the general area of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte provinces where Sinnott and his abductors were last sighted Wednesday last week in Sultan Naga Dimaporo town, Lanao del Norte, a known stronghold of the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“We are careful not to launch a rescue operation because we are dictated by the crisis management committee especially because of the area wherein we have elements of the MILF as we know we are going to talk peace with them…that is why we are also careful in dealing with this kind of situation,” the military spokesman said.

Brawner also admitted that the resurgence of kidnappings in Mindanao regions is “bothering” the military organization but junked allegations of intelligence failure contributed to the recent rise in such incidents, among them the abduction of seven employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Butuan City and the snatching of a school principal in Patikul, Sulu.

“I think we don’t have any problem in our intelligence gathering but the resurgence of kidnapping incidents in Mindanao is of course bothering,” Brawner said, citing reports showing the traditional rise of kidnapping cases during election period.

“We are working round the clock, we are working with the PNP (Philippine National Police) to prevent these incidents of kidnappings. At present, our intelligence units are working to gather more information,” he added.

Relatedly, United States Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney said the US government will not allow its forces, particularly those participating in the Balikatan exercises, to get involved in the actual rescue operations of Father Sinnot.

The envoy, in a chance interview, yesterday stressed that the only assistance they can give is to furnish the AFP intelligence reports that they will gather regarding the abduction of the Irish priest.

Kenney said participating in the rescue operations or combat operations against Sinnott’s kidnappers is not only a gross violation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) but intruding into the Philippines’ internal affairs.

She noted that the US government is also joining other groups in calling for the kidnappers to immediately release the priest. PNA