Kidnapped priest’s health is failing: military

THE elderly Irish priest being held hostage in the Philippines is still alive but has become very weak as his health fails, according to a military commander who made contact yesterday with his kidnappers.

The gunmen holding Fr Michael Sinnott have also been in touch with his order, the Columban fathers in the city of Pagadian. The contact was made yesterday by telephone through Major General Ben Dolorfino who declined to disclose the details of the call or whether any ransom demand has been made by the priest’s kidnappers.

Four of the six armed men who forcibly took him last Sunday night have been identified by authorities.

Major Dolorfino said he could not disclose details but the call indicated that Fr Sinnott is in Lanao del Norte in the west of the country. “The call was traced to that province,” he said. Fr Sinnott did not talk with his colleagues during the call.

Dolorfino said the contact might have been established when the kidnappers got one of the flyers distributed by authorities, which contained numbers to be contacted for any information that could help in efforts to deliver medicine to Fr Sinnott who suffers from a serious heart condition.

He said the military validated the call through “inside sources”. Rebel leader Mohagher Iqbal promised to help amid concern for Fr Sinnott’s health. The priest has recently undergone heart bypass surgery and did not have his medicines on him.

“His health condition is poor and that is the reason why the kidnappers are having a hard time transferring the captive to another place,” Dolorfino said.

He said the kidnappers also could not move “because of the heavy presence of ground troops on the highways and different routes, including the shorelines”.

Regional officials in Zamboanga said they were becoming increasingly worried about Fr Sinnott’s condition. “Everyone here is really worried, concerned and very anxious over the safety of Fr Sinnott,” Allan Molde, provincial information officer, said.