FEARS are growing for the safety of kidnapped Irish priest Fr Michael Sinnott after military authorities in the Philippines yesterday admitted that they do not know for certain where he is.Last weekend the military claimed to have surrounded the compound where he is being held, but that has now been discounted.
Fr Sinnott was reported to be in three different provinces in southern Philippines yesterday, making it difficult for the military to conduct search and rescue operations.
"On the case of Father Sinnott, we have a lot of information. We are trying to make sense of it through our intelligence units," said Col Benito de Leon, commander of the army’s 104th Brigade.
Fr Sinnott, abducted on October 11 in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur, was reportedly seen with his kidnappers in the boundary of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte provinces.
However, according to some reports, Fr Sinnott and his abductors did not leave Zamboanga del Sur while others placed him in Basilan province, a bailiwick of the Abu Sayyaf, a group of Islamic fundamentalists notorious for kidnapping.
"Since the start, there are mixed sources of information, but I am not at liberty to discuss the conclusion of the high command," said Col de Leon.
Fr Sinnott turns 80 on December 18 and has had heart bypass surgery recently. He is in urgent need of heart medication.
The Missionary Society of Saint Columban, Fr Sinnott’s religious order, has asked US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to help negotiate the release in the hope that American military stationed in the Philippines would conduct a search and rescue mission.
However, according to US embassy spokesperson Rebecca Thomson, American troops cannot participate in such an operation because Philippine laws prevent them from doing so.
However, "if there is any information we have or another way we can facilitate his safe return, we stand ready," she told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Ms Thomson noted that "in accordance with Philippine laws, US troops do not participate in combat missions."
In a text message, she said Washington "condemns the kidnapping of Fr Sinnott and calls for his swift, unconditional release and the prosecution of those responsible."
During the weekend, Gary Olivar, deputy presidential spokesperson, said the Philippine government was open to enlisting the aid of US troops in rescue operations for Sinnott.
However, he said Filipino soldiers would still lead the charge if US forces were used.
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