Abducted Irish priest freed in Philippines

Manila, Nov 12 : An abducted Irish Catholic priest was freed unharmed Thursday after one month in captivity in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Father Michael Sinnott, 79, was turned over to authorities by the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), whose members were accused of being behind his kidnapping.

"He's very weak and appeared disoriented," said Major General Benjamin Dolorfino, a regional military commander.

Director General Jesus Verzosa, national police chief, said no ransom was paid for Sinnott's release.

"The MILF was pressured," he said.

Sinnott, who underwent a quadruple heart bypass operation in 2005, was abducted Oct 11 from the Columban Missionary House in nearby Pagadian City.

The kidnappers had demanded $2 million for his freedom.

In an interview with local television, Sinnott said he was not harmed by his kidnappers.

"I was treated very well," he said. "Once I had been kidnapped and brought to the boat, that was very rough. But after that, we were treated very well."

Verzosa said police would further investigate the kidnapping and file criminal charges against those involved.

"We will piece together all the evidence that we have, and we will charge those responsible in court in cooperation with Father Sinnott," he said.

Presidential spokesman Cerge Remonde hailed Sinnott's release.

"We thank all those responsible for this," he said. "There should be no letup in the manhunt operations against those responsible."

The MILF, the largest Muslim separatist rebel group fighting for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines, has denied involvement in the kidnapping.

The kidnapping occurred amid efforts to resume stalled peace talks between the MILF and the Philippine government.

Sinnott was first assigned in 1957 in the southern region of Mindanao but left the country in 1966. He returned in 1976 and in 1998 established a school for special children in Pagadian City.

--IANS