Moro commander tagged in priest’s kidnapping

INTERIOR SECRETARY Ronaldo V. Puno yesterday identified a Moro commander as mastermind behind the abduction of an elderly Irish priest three weeks ago, an issue that would be raised in the peace process.

Father Michael Sinnott, 79, was abducted at the Columban missions home in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur last Oct. 11.

"We are now on a case buildup mode… the identities of the kidnappers started to surface and a great majority of them are actually identified with the 113th Base Command of the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) under Aloy Alsree," Mr. Puno said in a press conference at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

This information, he added, will be relayed by the crisis management committee led by Zamboanga del Sur Governor Aurora E. Cerilles to the government’s peace panel which will raise the issue with MILF counterparts.

"All they [MILF] need is one or two people to communicate with the kidnappers… if they need more than that, it means they cannot control the situation," Mr. Puno said.

Citing intelligence reports, he said Mr. Sinnott is believed to be at the boundary of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Cotabato City.

As expected, the MILF denied the allegation. "This is not new to us. They link every kidnapping in Mindanao with the MILF," Mohagher Iqbal, the group’s chief negotiator, told BusinessWorld by phone.

"He [Mr. Puno] just [identified persons] without validating[ the information]," Mr. Iqbal said.

Despite the accusation, he reiterated the MILF’s offer to send a company-size delegation to help in the priest’s safe rescue.

Mr. Puno, meanwhile, said the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group are "preparing the evidence that will be ultimately used in the prosecution" of Mr. Sinnott’s abductors.

Rejected offer

As this developed, the MILF criticized Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. and Mr. Puno, for blocking the MILF’s offer to help.

The Moro rebels said their proposal is a response to appeals from the Irish government to help in rescuing Mr. Sinnott.

Richard A. O’Brien, Irish envoy to the Philippines and Singapore, along with Gerry Kelley and Martin McGuinness who are members of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, personally made their appeal for the MILF "to exert all efforts to help in the rescue of the kidnapped priest," said the rebels.

"The good ambassador came to Maguindanao early last month mainly for this and to meet key MILF leaders," the MILF said in a statement. Top officials of the Northern Ireland government earlier met with the Moro rebels. However, the MILF said its attempt to rescue the priest is being coordinated with the crisis management committee and the Joint Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities.

"But while we are doing this for the sake of justice, humanity, goodwill and friendship, two high government officials, DND (Department of National Defense) Secretary Gilbert C. Teodoro and DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno, keep on stabbing us on the back. They accused the MILF of being responsible for the abduction of the priest, because they said the ones who did it were MILF rogue elements," the Moro rebels said.

The reaction came as the government rejected the Moro rebels’ request to send a company-size contingent in the Lanao provinces to help track down the whereabouts of the Irish priest.

Lt. Col. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr., spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the government is discouraging Moro rebels to send troops to prevent misencounters with the military.

In addition, Mr. Puno also ordered the crisis management committee, which is being headed by the local government officials of Zamboanga del Sur, to clear with the Palace any attempt to tap the MILF’s assistance in rescue operations.

Last weekend, the kidnappers released a footage of the priest and demand $2 million for the victim’s freedom. Both the Philippine and Irish governments, along with the Columban missionary, rejected the ransom demand. -- Adriel M. Paglinawan and Darwin T. Wee

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Moro commander tagged in priest’s kidnapping