COLLEAGUES of kidnapped Irish priest Fr Michael Sinnott have called on the Philippine authorities to focus on the cleric's safety rather than internal political difficulties.As the Wexford born-priest approaches the end of four weeks in captivity, a Columban friend said last night that they wanted Fr Sinnott's health to be the top priority for authorities.
"For us, he has been the focus of all of this, no matter what quibbling is going on between groups, and his safety is paramount," said a Columban Order spokesman.
"Even if it takes longer, we would prefer that as long as he is safe, rather than a rescue attempt that might go wrong."
At the moment, "there's still no light at the end of the tunnel", he said, but they were living in hope and keeping the elderly priest in their prayers.
Tomorrow will mark four weeks since Fr Sinnott, who is originally from the Barntown area of Co Wexford but has spent about three decades working in the Philippines, was abducted from the Columban compound in Pagadian city.
Many conflicting stories have emerged since he was taken and it is believed that a dissident group of separatists is responsible for the kidnapping.
The country's government yesterday named six Muslim separatist leaders it claims is behind the abduction -- all members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The kidnapping has raised tension between the government and MILF at a time when tentative peace talks have been making slow progress.
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