The Columban fathers and Philippines bishops have rejected a US$2 million ransom demand for the release of Irish Columban Father Michael Sinnott contained in a video released with footage of him. The video reportedly showed the 79 year old priest holding a copy of the October 22 issue of a Manila newspaper, The Australian reports.
“My kidnappers are led by commander Abu Jayad. They are asking two million US dollars as ransom money,” the priest said while standing in front of what appeared to be a bed sheet or table cloth in a forested area.
“We are living in the open, in difficult circumstances. I am still in good health even if I do not have the full medicines.”
While expressing relief at the safety of Fr Sinnott, who was taken on October 11, the Philippine head of the Missionary Society of Saint Columban Father Patrick O’Donoghue said that no money would be paid to secure Sinnott’s freedom.
“The Columban fathers do not pay ransom and we never have and I don’t think we ever would,” O’Donoghue said.
He said Sinnott would not want a ransom to be paid.
“I could see him wanting that money to be used in ways rather than ransom. That two million should rather be used for education, for the care of people with disabilities,” he said.
CBCP committee on public affairs chair, Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, on Sunday also expressed the belief that Fr Sinnott would not want any ransom to be paid for his release.
He said the country’s Catholic leadership supported the stand taken by the government and the Columbans to reject the kidnappers’ demand for a $2-million ransom for Sinnott’s safe release.
“That’s the policy of the government. It should stand by that policy so that (the kidnappers) would no longer be emulated,” Iniguez told the Inquirer in a phone interview.
Asked whether the non-payment of ransom was also the stance of the Catholic leaders in the country, Iniguez said: “Certainly.”
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