Fr. Sinnott's colleagues want US govt's help
10/17/2009 | 10:07 AM
Columban missionaries in the United States have asked the Obama government’s help for the safe release of ailing Irish priest Michael Sinnott, who was abducted in Mindanao last weekend.
The US-based Columban missionaries made the request in a letter sent to US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, saying they fear for Sinnott’s safety.
“We ask that all peaceful measures be taken to locate Fr. Sinnott and negotiate his release ... We ask that you respond in all due haste, as Fr. Sinnott has a heart condition and is, as far as we know, without his medication," read the letter to Mrs. Clinton.
Excerpts of the letter were posted Saturday on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site.
A copy of the letter was also sent to Philippine Ambassador to the US Willy Gaa.
The US-based Columban missionaries said Sinnott had lived for 40 years in the Philippines, and one of his most recent ministries has been in school for children and young adults with special needs in Pagadian City.
Earlier, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said they already identified the abductors as part of a criminal gang involved in kidnapping in the region.
For its part, the CBCP noted foreign and local missionaries have a history of being targeted by Islamic militants in Mindanao region.
In 1998, priest Luciano Benedetti was seized by gunmen but was freed 10 weeks after. Another Italian missionary, Giuseppe Peirantoni, was abducted in 2000. He escaped six months later.
In 2007, gunmen abducted Italian missionary Fr. Giancarlo Bossi from the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions. He was freed more than a month later.
Don't go to Mindanao
Sinnott’s abduction prompted Australia and the United Kingdom to advise their nationals against travel to parts of Mindanao.
Australia issued a travel advisory Friday “strongly" advising its nationals not to travel to Mindanao, a day after the UK issued a similar advisory.
“In October 2009, an Irish priest was kidnapped from a missionary compound in Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur, highlighting the seriousness of this threat," Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in its travel advisory
(http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Philippines).
The advisory noted that in January, three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers were kidnapped in Sulu, and released after protracted negotiations.
In June 2008, a television crew was kidnapped in Jolo and released “after complex negotiations involving demands for a large ransom," it added.
Also, Australia cited the “very high threat of terrorist attack" in advising against travel to Mindanao, including mainland Mindanao, the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago.
Among the areas which the advisory said had a continuing high threat of terrorist attack and kidnappings against westerners include towns and cities in North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, including General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del
Norte, including Iligan City.
For its part, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) reiterated its warning against going to southwest Mindanao and Sulu area.
“There is a high threat from terrorism throughout the Philippines. An Irish priest was kidnapped from Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur, Mindanao, on 11 October 2009," it said
(http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/philippines).
“We advise against all travel to south west Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago because of ongoing terrorist and insurgent activity. We advise against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao," it added.
“If you intend to travel to the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental you should use air or sea routes as we advise against all travel to neighbouring provinces," the FCO said.
Areas covered by the FCO travel advisory include the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), including Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi plus the eastern provinces of Sarangani, North and South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.
For its part, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front denied holding Sinnott and promised to help look for him. - GMANews.TV
Fr. Michael Sinnott, 79, was seized by gunmen on Oct. 11 from his home at the Missionary Society of St. Columban compound in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. Video grab from GMA News
The US-based Columban missionaries made the request in a letter sent to US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, saying they fear for Sinnott’s safety.
“We ask that all peaceful measures be taken to locate Fr. Sinnott and negotiate his release ... We ask that you respond in all due haste, as Fr. Sinnott has a heart condition and is, as far as we know, without his medication," read the letter to Mrs. Clinton.
Excerpts of the letter were posted Saturday on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site.
A copy of the letter was also sent to Philippine Ambassador to the US Willy Gaa.
The US-based Columban missionaries said Sinnott had lived for 40 years in the Philippines, and one of his most recent ministries has been in school for children and young adults with special needs in Pagadian City.
Earlier, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said they already identified the abductors as part of a criminal gang involved in kidnapping in the region.
For its part, the CBCP noted foreign and local missionaries have a history of being targeted by Islamic militants in Mindanao region.
In 1998, priest Luciano Benedetti was seized by gunmen but was freed 10 weeks after. Another Italian missionary, Giuseppe Peirantoni, was abducted in 2000. He escaped six months later.
In 2007, gunmen abducted Italian missionary Fr. Giancarlo Bossi from the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions. He was freed more than a month later.
Don't go to Mindanao
Sinnott’s abduction prompted Australia and the United Kingdom to advise their nationals against travel to parts of Mindanao.
Australia issued a travel advisory Friday “strongly" advising its nationals not to travel to Mindanao, a day after the UK issued a similar advisory.
“In October 2009, an Irish priest was kidnapped from a missionary compound in Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur, highlighting the seriousness of this threat," Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in its travel advisory
(http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Philippines).
The advisory noted that in January, three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers were kidnapped in Sulu, and released after protracted negotiations.
In June 2008, a television crew was kidnapped in Jolo and released “after complex negotiations involving demands for a large ransom," it added.
Also, Australia cited the “very high threat of terrorist attack" in advising against travel to Mindanao, including mainland Mindanao, the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago.
Among the areas which the advisory said had a continuing high threat of terrorist attack and kidnappings against westerners include towns and cities in North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, including General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del
Norte, including Iligan City.
For its part, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) reiterated its warning against going to southwest Mindanao and Sulu area.
“There is a high threat from terrorism throughout the Philippines. An Irish priest was kidnapped from Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur, Mindanao, on 11 October 2009," it said
(http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/philippines).
“We advise against all travel to south west Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago because of ongoing terrorist and insurgent activity. We advise against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao," it added.
“If you intend to travel to the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental you should use air or sea routes as we advise against all travel to neighbouring provinces," the FCO said.
Areas covered by the FCO travel advisory include the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), including Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi plus the eastern provinces of Sarangani, North and South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.
For its part, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front denied holding Sinnott and promised to help look for him. - GMANews.TV
