MANILA - A police official in Zamboanga Peninsula on Wednesday claimed that a commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is holding Irish priest Michael Sinnott captive.

Chief Superintendent Angelo Sunglao, Zamboanga Peninsula regional police chief, said the kidnapped Irish priest has been transferred to an MILF commander identified as Latip Jamat.

Sunglao, however, did not disclose where the alleged MILF commander was keeping the kidnapped priest.

Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, chief of the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command, meanwhile, said that the military has traced the pumpboat used in the kidnapping of the priest to a known bandit named Guingona Samal alias Kumander Ingo, who operates mainly in Zamboanga del Sur.

Dolorfino said the priest has been sighted with his kidnappers three times since October 12, a day after he was abducted by 6 gunmen from his home at the Missionary Society of St. Columban Compound in Pagadian City.

The regional military chief said the sightings are positive proof that the priest was still alive.

The priest's colleagues had said that the 79-year-old priest has a heart problem and feared that he may not survive the ordeal. They expressed hope the priest's abductors would treat him well.

"We cannot say anything about his condition but we know he recently underwent bypass surgery and considering that situation (we hope) his captors may not move him around to different places," Dolorfino said.

Authorities have said the dreaded Abu Sayyaf or the separatist MILF are suspects. Both groups, as well as other unnamed Muslim armed gangs, are known to operate in parts of Lanao.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu had denied allegations that their group has a hand in the priest's kidnapping.

"We are not involved in this, and we see no reason why our men should be involved in this," Kabalu said, stressing that his group was set to resume peace talks with the government.

He also offered help to help the government rescue the kidnapped priest.

"We don't know who is behind this, but what is important is that we are willing to cooperate and assist the government look for him (Sinnott) for humanitarian reasons," Kabalu insisted. With reports from Leila Vicente, ABS-CBN Zamboanga and Noel Alamar, radio dzMM