Philippines Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno says he believes kidnapped Irish priest Fr Michael Sinnott won’t suffer the same fate as a school principal who was beheaded earlier this week. “In the case of Fr Sinnott, the fact that there have been higher level discussions [with the kidnappers] might make a difference. This one, I think, is different,” Puno told reporters on Tuesday at a press briefing in Zamboanga, ABS-CBN News reports.
Puno was comparing the Irish priest’s case to that of Gabriel Canizares, principal of Kanague Elementary School in Patikul town, whose head was dumped by his kidnappers beside a gasoline station in downtown Jolo on Monday.
Puno also said that the kidnappers of Fr Sinnott do not resort to beheading. He maintained his earlier accusation that the Irish priest is being held by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is engaged in peace talks with the government.
Meanwhile, a new crisis management committee (CMC) has been formed to negotiate Fr Sinnott’s release, PhilStar reports.
The government said it is giving the MILF central committee a chance to help in the release after information came out that the secessionist group has not abandoned their readiness to help effect the release of the abducted priest.
Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman, said the new CMC, which would still be headed by Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Aurora Cerilles, has included local government executives from the two provinces.
The broadened crisis committee, according to the AFP spokesman, would boost the cooperative efforts of the three local executives and other law enforcement agencies in negotiating the release of the foreign missionary.
He said the military is ready to mount a rescue operation if allowed by the CMC.
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