Armed police sent to force release of Fr Sinnott
Friday November 06 2009
GOVERNMENT officials in the Philippines met yesterday with military and police chiefs to plan a strategy to help free kidnapped Irish priest, Fr Michael Sinnott.
The Philippines sent hundreds of armed policemen to the area where he is being held to force the release of the priest, local reports said.
"We're not launching yet a rescue operation. We're just trying to constrict their movements and contain them in one area. They are going to feel the tension in those areas," said Allan Molde, spokesman for the local government crisis panel.
As fears grow again for Fr Sinnott's health after almost four weeks in captivity, two members of the Philippine president's cabinet yesterday held a closed-door conference with top army and police chiefs.
Meanwhile the Department of Foreign Affairs is warning members of the public of a "high threat from terrorism" throughout the Philippines and says attacks could take place against civilians in public areas. Foreigners have been targeted before for kidnapping particularly in the southern Philippines and in coastal areas.
Information received by military intelligence sources revealed that Wexford-born Fr Sinnott is still being held captive in the tri-boundary area of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. Concerns were expressed this week by colleagues of Fr Sinnott for his safety.
He underwent a quadruple heart bypass operation in recent years and is on daily medication.
Major General Ben Dolorfino of the armed forces said that military and naval forces have been sent to a number of coastal villages in an attempt to seal off all possible escape routes for Fr Sinnott's kidnappers.
Elite police mobile forces have also been placed on standby for a possible rescue attempt.
Meanwhile, a government peace negotiator expressed confidence yesterday that Fr Sinnott's kidnapping was not related to peace talks between the government of the Philippines and Muslim separatists.
- Conor Kane
Irish Independent
