Palace to MILF: Produce commander in Sinnott's kidnapping
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/04/2009 4:51 PM
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MANILA - Malacañang on Wednesday urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to surface its commander tagged as responsible for the abduction of Father Michael Sinnott’s.
“If I were the MILF leadership, as a show of goodwill they should surface Commander Al Alshree,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in a media briefing at Malacañang.
He said presenting Commander Aloy Al Alshree to the authorities handling the kidnapping case would prove the MILF’s sincerity in their supposed effort for the safe release of the Italian priest.
Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno on Tuesday said Al Alshree, who heads the MILF’s 113th Base Command, is holding Sinnott captive in the tri-boundary of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur.
The 79-year-old Irish priest was abducted by 6 gunmen from the Columban house in Gatas District of Pagadian City on October 11.
Ermita, meanwhile, clarified Puno’s statement on Tuesday that the government has cut off all communications with the MILF leadership with regards to the rescue operations for Sinnott.
The Malacañang official said the government is very much willing to accept the help being offered by the MILF.
He explained that all actions being undertaken by the military are being relayed to the MILF leadership through a joint peace panel.
Ermita said the MILF’s offer for help is actually a positive development because it would pressure the Moro group to prove its sincerity in peace negotiations with the government.
He, however, said the MILF should also allow the military and the police to do what is necessary to rescue the Irish priest safely.
MILF commander is innocent
MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, meanwhile, defended the MILF commander against Puno’s allegations.
“What’s important is he has nothing to do with that kidnapping and we can vouch for that,” Iqbal said.
He added that the Al Alshree has been ordered by the MILF leadership to work for the release of Sinnott.
He said Puno’s allegations did not only destroy Al Alshree’s credibility, but it has also greatly affected the ongoing peace talks.
MILF vice chairman Ghadzali Jaafar had earlier denied Puno's charges, saying the group had helped free other hostages in the past and was still willing to help free Sinnott.
MILF Puno’s statements reversed
Iqbal said they are considering filing a protest against Puno for directly blaming the separatist group in the kidnapping.
Iqbal also urged the government to “make a correction” regarding Puno’s statement.
“Otherwise the MILF is considering withdrawing our support to the rescue of Father Sinnott and we will hold Puno accountable for the consequences of his statement,” the MILF leader said.
The MILF had offered to deploy a company-size unit to launch a rescue operation for the Irish priest, but was turned down by the government for fear of another bloody “misencounter” with its troops already posted in the area where Sinnott is believed being held captive.
The government said the MILF’s assistance should be limited only to intelligence gathering on pinpointing the location of the kidnappers and the Irish priest.
Peace talks with the MILF have been stalled since last year, when two MILF commanders broke a five-year-old ceasefire and launched large-scale attacks across Mindanao.
The talks however were however scheduled to resume this year after both sides agreed to allow the participation of international peace brokers.
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