Local officials overseeing efforts to free kidnapped priest Fr. Michael Sinnott are asking for help from the military in rescuing the missionary, a spokesman for the Zamboanga del Sur Crisis Management Committee bared Monday.

Committee spokesman Allan June Molde said the panel has passed a resolution asking for the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the ongoing police operation to rescue Sinnott.

Molde said the military is observing a suspension of military operations in Lanao del Sur and other areas considered as territories of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. He said the SOMO bars the Armed Forces from fully assisting law enforcers in search-and-rescue operations for Sinnott.

The resolution was approved in the panel's meeting in Manila Sunday. The expanded membership of the committee attended the meeting including Lanao del Norte Governor Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Al. Adiong Jr. and Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino of the AFP Western Mindanao Command.

The Philippine National Police on Friday named five more Muslim separatist leaders from the country's restive south as suspects in the abduction of Fr. Sinnott.

State prosecutors have now summoned six Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leaders on allegations they played a role in the October 11 abduction, PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said.

They include Salip Aloy Al Asree, a MILF brigade commander, who was accused earlier this week by Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno of being behind the kidnapping of Fr. Sinnott, a Roman Catholic missionary.

The five MILF leaders named on Friday are Latip Jamad, Nasser Macabato, Imam Abubakar, Wanning Abdusalam and Saidamen Alik.

Sinnott, 79, who has a history of heart problems, was kidnapped by six armed men in the southern city of Pagadian on Mindanao island.

A video has been sent to authorities in the south, showing Sinnott speaking and demanding a two-million-dollar ransom for his release. With a report from Agence France-Presse