ZAMBOANGA CITY, 15 June 2007 — The chief suspect in the kidnapping of an Italian priest in the southern Philippines may still be connected with the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a high official of the separatist group.

“Akiddin Abbusallam appears to be an MILF member up to this time,” said Ghazali Jaafar, the MILF’s deputy chief for political affairs, contradicting claims by two other officials that Akiddin had long been outlawed by the group.

Jaafar, however, was quick to say that Abdusallam may also be innocent of all accusations against him.

Akiddin Abdusallam and his brother Waning Abdusallam are being blamed by the military and police in the June 10 abduction of Fr. Giancarlo Bossi in Payao town of Zamboanga Sibugay province.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu and chief rebel peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal both said that Abdusallam had long ceased to be a member of their group, which is currently negotiating peace with Manila.

Iqbal went on to say that Abdulsalam has ties with the militant Abu Sayyaf group, which is the subject of an offensive by government troops in the southern island of Jolo.

Police insist that Abdusallam is the deputy commander the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the military wing of the MILF, operating in Zamboanga Sibugay. He was previously reported to have died in a clash with troops, but it turned that he is alive.

Maj. Gen. Nehemias Pajarito, commander of the army’s First Infantry Division, said Abdussalam has denied involvement in the kidnapping.

Jaafar said he was inclined to believe information reaching him that those who abducted the priest “are notorious personalities involved in previous kidnappings (for ransom) in Pagadian City and Zamboanga City and in (Zamboanga) Sibugay.”

“They operate on their own and we cannot say if they have links or members of the Abu Sayyaf group,” he said.

Jaafar said they have three suspects in the kidnapping of Bossi, but could not divulge them publicly, saying, it could jeopardize efforts to free the missioner.

A general, meanwhile, said separatist rebels have located a mountain area where gunmen are holding Bossi, and a suspected accomplice in the kidnapping has been arrested.

The MILF told the military that Bossi was seen Wednesday in the company of about 15 gunmen in a mountainous area in Naga township in the same province, Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino said.

“This is better now because at least there is a particular area where a search can be conducted,” he said.

told reporters in Manila. “What is important is to be able to contain the kidnappers in one area to limit the options available to them.” He said if the kidnappers are surrounded, they could abandon Bossi and escape, or try to negotiate.