ZAMBOANGA CITY: Kidnappers holding an elderly Irish missioner hostage have released a video of their captive and demanded $2 million for his release.

The video, a copy of which was seen by a local journalist in Pagadian City on Saturday, showed 79-year-old Father Michael Sinnott holding a copy of the October 22 issue of a Manila newspaper as proof of life.

“My kidnappers are led by Commander Abu Jayad. They are asking $2million as ransom money,” the priest said while standing in front of a white background in a forested area.

“We are living in the open, in difficult circumstances. I am still in good health even if I do not have the full medicines.”

Sinnott is being held the boundary of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte provinces in northern Mindanao.

Father Patrick O’Donoghue, the Philippine head of the Missionary Society of Saint Columban, who saw photographs taken from the video, confirmed that it was Sinnott and expressed relief that he was looking relatively healthy.

However, he stressed that no money would be paid to secure Sinnott’s freedom. “The Columban fathers do not pay ransom and we never have and I don’t think we ever would,” he said.

A senior Sinn Féin figure Gerry Kelly and former Downing Street Chief of Staff Jonathan Powell who have been involved in behind-the-scenes talks in an attempt to secure the ailing Columban missioner have earlier said that the kidnappers were demanding ransom.

The Irish Times has quoted Kelly as saying, “The good news is that they believe he is in Lanao del Norte.
The kidnappers are asking for ‘board and lodgings’—a euphemism for a ransom.”

Kelly did not say how much ransom the kidnappers were demanding.

Philippine military officials and MILF rebels said they have not seen the copy of the video.

“I have not seen the video and have no knowledge about its existence. We don’t know anything about the video, which showed Father Sinnott. We have not seen the video,” said Marine Maj. General Benjamin Dolorfino, chief of the Western Mindanao Command.

Eid Kabalu, a spokesman for the MILF rebels, said, “We are not aware of the video. Until now we have no proof of life. We have no photos or video of Father Sinnott, but if there is such a video, well that’s good and a proof that Father Sinnot is alive,” he said.

Dolorfino and Kabalu said they were unaware of any negotiations involving Kelly and Powell for the release of Sinnott.
Al Jacinto and AFP