ZAMBOANGA CITY: A kidnapped Irish Catholic missionary was freed in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines after a month in captivity, according to a senior rebel leader, whose group helped in freeing the elderly cleric.
Mohagher Iqbal, chief peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said Father Michael Sinnott, 79, was handed over to government agencies at around 4.22 a.m. at the coastal village of Sangali.
“We are very happy with the recovery of Father Michael Sinnott. It was a delicate operation. We exerted pressure on the group holding the priest,” Iqbal told Arab News.
Iqbal said no ransom was paid for Sinnott’s release. “Kidnapping is illegal in Islam and Father Sinnott’s recovery did not involve any money,” he said.
The kidnappers originally demanded $2 million for the release of the missionary, but Manila said it would not pay ransom. Sinnott was taken by six gunmen on Oct. 11 from his Columban missionary house in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province and brought to Lanao province.
