THE government said Thursday the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) played a role in the release of a 79-year-old Irish priest abducted in Pagadian City with no ransom paid to his abductors.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis credited the MILF Thursday for persuading the kidnappers to hand over Columban missionary Michael Sinnott.

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Eastern Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief Major General Benjamin Dolorfino said Sinnott was turned over to government representatives in a coastal village in Zamboanga City Thursday dawn.

According to the MILF website, luwaran.com, the MILF Task Force tasked to secure Sinnott recovered the priest and immediately turned him over to the MILF Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH).

The MILF CCCH, at the same time, turned over Sinnott to Major Carlos Sol Jr., chair of the secretariat of the government CCCH, and his staff and then to Seguis.

Interior Secretary Reynaldo Puno, who headed government efforts to recover Sinnott, earlier issued a statement that a faction of the MILF had a hand in the kidnapping of the Irish priest.

The MILF declared on Wednesday that Puno will "eat his words" by rescuing Fr. Sinnott from his captors.

The MILF rescued the priest Wednesday evening and turned him over to the government early morning Thursday.

Treated well

Sinnott, in a press conference, said he was not harmed but complained of arduous journeys as kidnappers took him by sea and through jungles to evade government troops.

"I was treated well. Once I had been kidnapped and brought to the boat, that was very rough," he told ABS-CBN television from a military camp in Zamboanga City.

He said he was not angry with the kidnappers. "They gave me lectures on their ideology but apart from that, they treated me well," he said.

Sinnot said for 10 days in his captivity they were walking in a swampy area. He said his abductors were very organized.

Dolorfino, on the other hand, said the operations will continue to hunt down Sinnott's abductors.

Gratitude

In Malacanang, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said government welcomed the safe release of Sinnott and thanked the MILF, the military, police, and local crisis management committee.

"We commend Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and Ambassador (Rafael) Seguis for their respective roles. There should, however, be no let up in the manhunt operations against those responsible," he added.

Remonde said a "warm" welcome was accorded Fr. Sinnott who was received by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Thursday at the Villamor Airbase before she flew to Tagaytay to attend the 36th Top Level Management Conference of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster sa Pilipinas.

Sinnott was accompanied by Dolorfino, Seguis and several Irish officials.

Sinnot, during a short press conference after his courtesy call to the President, said he intends to return to the country despite his ordeal in the hands of what he described as a rouge group.

He expressed belief that those who abducted him were not MILF members, which Dolorfino said is being verified by authorities.

Released, not rescued

Seguis said Sinnott, whom he said was released and not rescued, was given breakfast, medical check-up and debriefing at the Western Mindanao headquarters in Zamboanga before being flown to Manila.

"He is a bit exhausted at this time, but otherwise, he is in good physical and emotional health. More importantly, he is with us once more. Since Fr. Sinnott’s abduction last October 11, ensuring his safe release has been our overriding concern. We have accomplished this goal," Seguis added.

"Personally, I am very relieved to see Fr. Mick early this morning when I received him from our Joint CCCH. Today marks the culmination of the hard work put in by the members of our Ceasefire Committees who, in coordination with the Crisis Management Committee and the MILF leadership, have demonstrated tremendous teamwork to ensure the success of this undertaking," Seguis said.

He also acknowledged the efforts of GRP-CCCH Chairman Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Sealana and his counterpart, MILF-CCCH Chairman Toks Ebrahim; the CCCH Secretariat led by Major Jun Sol and Rashid Ladiasan "for a job well done," and thanked the MILF Peace Panel under Mohagher Iqbal, "for working and cooperating with us through the peace process mechanism.”

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Annabelle Abaya joined "the rejoicing of Sinnott's family, congregation, friends, and the Filipino nation over his safe release.”

Abaya lauded the efforts and thanked the Joint Ceasefire Committee of the government and the MILF for working tirelessly together with the Crisis Management Committee.

She also commended the MILF leadership for helping "get Fr. Sinnott out of harm's way."

She added that the "teamwork" displayed by the government and MILF augurs well for peace negotiations.

"I express my congratulations to Ambassador Rafael Seguis early this morning when he announced this very happy news...This is a perfect example of how collaboration works when people are talking to one another. Imagine what more we can do together when we get back to the formal peace table," Abaya said.

Sinnott was taken by armed men from the Colmban Missionary House in Pagadian City last October 11. (JMR/Jill Beltran/AP/Sunnex)