PostHeaderIcon $2 million ransom demanded for Fr. Sinnott’s release



After wild specularions over the conflicting reports that Columban missionary Fr. Michael Sinnott who was snatched by unidentified kidnappers a week before was dead, the military finally announced through Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner on Saturday, October 31, 2009 that a $2 million ransom is being asked for his release from the forest of Mindanao.

In a video where Fr. Sinnott appeared standing behind an October 22, 2009 copy of the newspaper Inquirer, he identified the leader of his kidnappers as Abu Jandal. Authorities have yet to confirm if Jandal is a member of the notorious Abu Sayyaf militants who are known to extort money from civilian hostages. Abu Sayyaf have ties with Al Qaeda, the international Islamic terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden.

According to the military, the 79-year old ailing priest who was forcibly taken in his mission office in Pagadian City on October 11, 2009 and later wrongly reported to have been killed in captivity looked weak in the picture. He suffers from heart problems.

Fr. Patrick O’ Donoghue, the Philippine head of the the Missionary Society of St. Columban, the order where the captive priest belongs identified Fr. Sinnott. He said, consistent with the government policy of not paying ransom, the religious mission will not release money for the freedom of the kidnapped victim.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a separatist movement operating in Mindanao which tries to help bring back Fr. Sinnott announced a rescue is still the first option to free the Catholic religious missionary. MILF civil-military chief Eid Kabalu said the insurgents holding the hostage is a small group, but they carry deadly guns and ammunitions. (Photo Credit: Charlie Saceda) =0=

RELATED BLOG: "200 MILF negotiators for the release of Fr. Sinnott?" Posted by mesiamd at 11/04/2009

==============================================================

Blog Archive

Topics/Categories

Feedjit Live Blog Stats

Topics/Categories

Add to Technorati Favorites

Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 74

ABS-CBN News

GMA News.tv

Philippine Commentary

Inquirer Breaking News