MANILA - Irish Columban priest Michael Sinnott on Thursday said a "lost command" of Moro guerrillas held him captive for almost a month in Mindanao.

"They said they were lost command. The one in charge was Kikay," Sinnott told reporters at Camp Navarro, Zamboanga City, where he was immediately brought after being turned over by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) ceasefire committee to their counterparts in the government peace panel.

Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, chief of the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), said Sinnott was turned over to government peace panel chief Rafael Seguis at the coastal village of Sangali at around 4:25 a.m..

Lost command is often used to identify a rogue MILF group. They are also called by authorities as LMG (lawless MILF group).

Sinnott was kidnapped last October 11 from the Columban priests' house in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.

He said the first group that held him was composed of 7 men and then he was left with only 2 guards. The kidnappers initially brought him to a swampy area and then to a forest, where he lived under a makeshift tent and slept for several days on a hammock.

"They said to get money, get ransom was the reason," Sinnott said when asked about the reason for his kidnapping.

Right after the questions about the ransom, military police and his escorts immediately whisked the Irish priest away from the media people.

Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said no ransom was paid for Sinnott's release. In a statement, Martin thanked the US and European governments and the International Committee of the Red Cross for helping in the efforts to free the priest.

"The release of Father Michael represents the successful conclusion of a major diplomatic effort by the Irish and Philippine governments," Martin said.

"As in previous kidnaps, no ransom was paid by the Irish Government. To do so would only have jeopardized the vital work of aid workers and missionaries around the world - it would also place other Irish citizens in danger."

Sinnott is scheduled to take a flight to Manila and proceed to Malacañang to meet President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was also scheduled to receive US State Secretary Hillary Clinton at the Palace.

In an interview over ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda on Thursday morning, Fr. Sinnott said he was "treated well" by his kidnappers and was given "lectures on their ideology."

"I was treated very well. Once I had been kidnapped and brought to the boat; that was very rough. But after that, we were treated very well," he said.

Asked if he was hurt, he replied: "No, no, nothing hurts, thanks be to God."

Sinnott said he was not angry at his abductors.

"They gave me lectures on their ideology but apart from that, they treated me well," he said.

Sinnott said his Columban superiors in Manila have suggested that he undergo a check-up for a few days in a hospital in Manila.

MILF turns over Sinnott

Dolorfino said Sinnott was recovered by an MILF task force formed to work for his release. The military official, however, declined to name the leader of the task force.

"The MILF task force recovered Father Sinnott. This is a good development as far as the peace process is concerned," the regional military chief said.

The MILF, the largest Muslim rebel group in the Philippines, helped secure the release of the priest despite allegations that its members based in Lanao provinces had a hand in the kidnapping.

The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of $2 million.

Dolorfino said “definitely” no ransom was paid for the release. He said the priest was “rescued’ by the MILF task force.

Sinnott had been brought to the WesMinCom headquarters at Camp Navarro in Zamboanga City for a medical checkup and debriefing.

Seguis said the 78-year-old Irish priest, who had a triple bypass operation before being abducted last October 11, was "very cheerful" during the release.

Seguis said in an interview over dzMM on Thursday that Sinnott was "released with the help of the MILF."

He said Sinnott was first turned over to the MILF's ceasefire committee and then turned over to the government's ceasefire committee, which then turned the priest over to him at the Wesmincom headquarters.

Peace talks in December?

Following Sinnott's release, Seguis said the government will continue its peace efforts with the MILF, and they hope that formal talks can resume in December.

"So, this [release] can facilitate the resumption of talks," he added.

In an interview with dzMM on Thursday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said that based on the initial investigation, Sinnott is in good condition.

He attributed Sinnott’s release to the efforts of the area Crisis Management Committee.

Brawner said the AFP has launched a manhunt not only for Sinnott’s kidnappers but also for the kidnappers of a beheaded school principal in Basilan. -- With reports from Manny Mogato, Reuters and ABS-CBN Zamboanga