ZAMBOANGA, Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's largest Muslim group, has helped in the release of an abducted Irish Catholic priest, an effort praised by the government as a confidence-building measure. "Our forces on the ground exerted moral influence on the kidnappers to get the priest out," Mohaqer Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Thursday, November 12.
Father Michael Sinnott, an Irish Catholic priest, was kidnapped last month by six gunmen from his home at the Missionary Society of St. Columban compound in the southern city of Pagadian.
The abductors reportedly demanded a two-million-dollar ransom for his release.
But the Society of Saint Columban, Philippine authorities and the Irish government confirmed no ransom was paid.
"We got them to release him through pressure, by talking with their relatives, moral persuasion," explained Iqbal, the MILF official.
"We convinced them to hand him over to us."
Sinnott was released Thursday after one month of captivity in the jungles of south Philippines.
"I am very fine thank you," a smiling Sinnott told reporters at an air force base in the southern port city of Zamboanga before flying to the capital Manila.
"I would like to thank everyone who helped to get me free and all my friends who prayed for me while I was in captivity."
Manila had earlier accused MILF for involvement in the priest’s abduction, a claim refuted by the Muslim group which had condemned the move and promised help.
Sinnott confirmed that his captors were not MILF members, but members from a local Muslim tribe.
"It was not MILF, I’m very sure of that," he told reporters, adding that the abductors treated him "me very well."
"The conditions there were very primitive, but they did their best to make things as easy as possible for me."
Military officials confirmed Sinnott, 79, was handed over to police and government officials just before dawn on Thursday.
"He was turned over to us by the MILF," Southern Philippine military commander Major-General Ben Dolorfino said.
"This is a big confidence-building measure in forthcoming peace talks."
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde echoed the dame message.
"The MILF played towards this end is of course very contributory to the progress of the peace talks."
The government and MILF are negotiated a peace agreement to end a conflict that killed more than 120,000 people since its eruption in the late 1960s.
MILF has been struggling for an independent Muslim state in the mineral-rich southern region of Mindanao.
Mindanao, the birthplace of Islam in the Philippines, is home to more than 5 million Muslims.
Manila suspended last year peace talks with the MILF and junked an 11-year peace process to solve the conflict in the south.
The move came after the Supreme Court froze a peace deal that would have created a Muslim homeland in the south over protests from Christian groups.
But steps toward resumption of peace talks have seen advance over the previous months, with the two parties signing an agreement in October to protect the civilian population and civilian properties during armed conflict.
Rafael Seguis, the government's chief negotiator with MILF, asserted Thursday that they are aiming to secure a peace deal before President Gloria Arroyo steps down next year.
Deputy Presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo believes the release of Sinnot augurs well for the future of the peace talks.
"This would be a good start because both parties have shown their sincerity and their commitment to the peace talks by helping and cooperating with each other."
Source: IslamOnline
Father Michael Sinnott, an Irish Catholic priest, was kidnapped last month by six gunmen from his home at the Missionary Society of St. Columban compound in the southern city of Pagadian.
The abductors reportedly demanded a two-million-dollar ransom for his release.
But the Society of Saint Columban, Philippine authorities and the Irish government confirmed no ransom was paid.
"We got them to release him through pressure, by talking with their relatives, moral persuasion," explained Iqbal, the MILF official.
"We convinced them to hand him over to us."
Sinnott was released Thursday after one month of captivity in the jungles of south Philippines.
"I am very fine thank you," a smiling Sinnott told reporters at an air force base in the southern port city of Zamboanga before flying to the capital Manila.
"I would like to thank everyone who helped to get me free and all my friends who prayed for me while I was in captivity."
Manila had earlier accused MILF for involvement in the priest’s abduction, a claim refuted by the Muslim group which had condemned the move and promised help.
Sinnott confirmed that his captors were not MILF members, but members from a local Muslim tribe.
"It was not MILF, I’m very sure of that," he told reporters, adding that the abductors treated him "me very well."
"The conditions there were very primitive, but they did their best to make things as easy as possible for me."
Military officials confirmed Sinnott, 79, was handed over to police and government officials just before dawn on Thursday.
"He was turned over to us by the MILF," Southern Philippine military commander Major-General Ben Dolorfino said.
"This is a big confidence-building measure in forthcoming peace talks."
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde echoed the dame message.
"The MILF played towards this end is of course very contributory to the progress of the peace talks."
The government and MILF are negotiated a peace agreement to end a conflict that killed more than 120,000 people since its eruption in the late 1960s.
MILF has been struggling for an independent Muslim state in the mineral-rich southern region of Mindanao.
Mindanao, the birthplace of Islam in the Philippines, is home to more than 5 million Muslims.
Manila suspended last year peace talks with the MILF and junked an 11-year peace process to solve the conflict in the south.
The move came after the Supreme Court froze a peace deal that would have created a Muslim homeland in the south over protests from Christian groups.
But steps toward resumption of peace talks have seen advance over the previous months, with the two parties signing an agreement in October to protect the civilian population and civilian properties during armed conflict.
Rafael Seguis, the government's chief negotiator with MILF, asserted Thursday that they are aiming to secure a peace deal before President Gloria Arroyo steps down next year.
Deputy Presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo believes the release of Sinnot augurs well for the future of the peace talks.
"This would be a good start because both parties have shown their sincerity and their commitment to the peace talks by helping and cooperating with each other."
Source: IslamOnline
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