Sinnott negotiators ask MILF to show ‘sincerity’

Government negotiators working for the release of abducted Irish priest Michael Sinnott asked the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Tuesday to show “sincerity" in helping them in their work. Allan June Molde, spokesman for the crisis management committee (CMC) handling Sinnott’s case, cited the “preponderance of reports" that the priest was being held in an area where the MILF has active presence. “They (MILF members) have volunteered to help us. Sana naman (we wish) there should be sincerity, because of the preponderance of reports that the group holding the priest is in the Lanao area," Molde said in an interview on dzXL radio. In the meantime, Molde said the CMC is forced to take a wait-and-see stance, until Sinnott’s abductors make direct contact with it. “…We’re praying that in due time a lot of groups will help us," he said. But MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal maintained that the MILF cannot automatically produce Sinnott just because he is believed held in Lanao provinces. "There is no exclusive control for MILF and the Philippine government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. ‘Di namin sinasabing absolute ang control namin diyan (We are not saying our control in the area is absolute)," he said in a separate interview on dzXL. "Kung hawak namin matagal na namin ibinigay yan (If we had custody of Sinnott we would have produced him long ago)," he added. The military had repeatedly claimed the MILF may be involved in the abduction, adding the MILF is active in the Lanao area. [See: Fr. Sinnott being held in Lanao provinces - AFP] Last week, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. cited reports reaching him indicating a “rogue" MILF unit was behind the abduction of Sinnott in Pagadian City last October 11. While the MILF has denied involvement in the abduction, it offered to help locate Sinnott and work for his release. Also last weekend, a television news showed a video of Sinnott holding a newspaper dated October 22, and claiming that his abductors want $2 million for his release. On Monday night, MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said they had decided to enter into the picture with the “hope" that the incident will come to a “favorable" end. “We are moving and there has been some progress, though I cannot tell you the details," Jaafar said in an article posted Monday night on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site. - GMANews.TV