SINNOTT ABDUCTION:THE SEARCH for kidnapped Irish priest Fr Michael Sinnott continued in the Philippines yesterday amid growing fears the elderly priest may be in dire need of his heart medication .
One week after his abduction thousands of flyers were being handed out in coastal communities on the troubled southern island of Mindanao seeking help to get medicines delivered to Fr Sinnott. Fr Sinnott turns 80 on December 18th and has had heart bypass surgery recently.
“We also hope that through this we will be able to establish contact . . . All sorts of avenues are being explored,” said Allan Molde, spokesman for a government task force handling the crisis.
No group has claimed responsibility for the October 11th abduction of the Roman Catholic missionary and there has still been no contact with his abductors, said Fr Pat O’Donoghue, Philippine regional director for the Columbans.
“We appeal to your kind heart that the medicines will be delivered to Fr Sinnott who currently has a serious heart ailment,” read one flyer released by the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur. It also listed emergency contact numbers.
Fr O’Donoghue said there had been an interfaith “prayer rally” in Pagadian, which began at the Hangop Kabataan School established by Fr Sinnott, known locally as “Fr Mick”.
The military said a local pirate had taken him by boat to the Lanao coast east of Pagadian city, and may have turned him over to a local leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a Muslim separatist rebel group.
The front leadership has denied any of its commanders were involved, and insists it is helping to secure Fr Sinnott’s release.
Superior Gen of the Columbans Tommy Murphy also appealed for Fr Sinnott’s release.
Fr O’Donoghue said: “There are little seeds of hope and I ask that we continue to water them with our prayers.”
