The head of the Irish Columban mission in the Philippines privately told fellow missionaries that he was kept in the dark by Filipino military and local clergy over issues relating to kidnapped Irish colleague Fr Michael Sinnott.Fr Patrick O’Donoghue, the Filipino regional director for the Columbans, wrote a confidential memo to his fellow missionaries last Friday criticising the lack of communication coming from a special taskforce of senior Filipino government, army and Catholic diocesan officials.
However, O’Donoghue said that communication had begun to improve, although only slightly.
Senior government officials in the Philippines have made direct contact with the group believed to have kidnapped Sinnott. The Wexford-born cleric was kidnapped on October 11. Sinnott appeared in a video on a local television station in Manila yesterday, in which he held up a copy of the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper dated October 22 and pleaded with the Irish and Filipino governments to help secure his release.
It is also understood that the Irish missionaries will not be allowed by the Filipino government to participate in direct negotiations for the priest’s release.
Sources predicted that negotiations could last for several weeks.
The kidnappers have sought $2 million (€1.3 million). In the past, these sums have fallen significantly during negotiations and previous kidnappings have been concluded on payment of much smaller sums. There was no question that the Columbans would pay any money towards Sinnott’s release, sources said.
The Sunday Business Post has learned that a direct link was opened up between clergy under the control of the local bishop of Padigan, Emmanuel Cabajar, and with local Muslim community leaders who were able to make contact with the 79-year-old priest’s captors.
Bishop Cabajar is a member of the high-level taskforce which was established by local government officials, the Filipino military and diocesan Church officials to negotiate Sinnott’s release.
It is also understood that it was due to this network of contacts that local Catholic clergy in southern Philippines succeeded in passing vital heart medicine to the Irishman’s captors, which may have occurred as long as 10 days ago.
No group has admitted responsibility for the kidnapping although well-placed sources said it appeared that the group may have been ‘‘bandits’’ who were known as ‘‘lost commands’’ or groups which were formerly under the control of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
In a statement yesterday, foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin said the Irish government will continue to work to secure the safe release of Sinnott.
The minister said that he had spoken with Sinnott’s family yesterday, who he said were ‘‘relieved to hear that there is further evidence that Fr Sinnott is alive’’.
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