An Irish priest who was abducted in the Philippines two weeks ago by suspected Muslim separatists is likely still alive but may be unwell, according to his superiors.
Fr Michael Sinnott was taken at gunpoint from his mission office in the city of Pagadian, on Mindanao island, on 11 October, two months before his 80th birthday.
Last week the government dismissed rumours that the missionary, who underwent heart surgery recently, had died in captivity.
Yesterday around 800 people took part in a rally in the Philippines to demand the release of the priest.
There are fears for the health of Fr Sinnott, as he had heart surgery four years ago.
Last week, reports from the region said he had been sighted, but no group has yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
The Columban Missionaries and the Department of Foreign Affairs have also dismissed reports that Fr Sinnott had died.
Fr Pat O'Donoghue, the Philippines head of the Missionary Society of Saint Columban said: ‘I am convinced that he is alive, I have reasons for saying that, but I cannot tell you,’ he added.
‘I just don't know how well he is,’ Fr O'Donoghue said. After two weeks in captivity, ‘he must be somewhat weak.’
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has rejected Filipino government allegations the priest was in the custody of one of its leaders, and has offered to pursue the gunmen.
Fr O'Donoghue said the mission, in co-ordination with a local government task force, was backing various efforts to get in touch with the kidnappers or at least provide him with urgently needed medicines.
The mission continued to hope that one or more of these efforts ‘would be successful eventually.’ He would not elaborate.
The MILF, which is observing a ceasefire amid efforts to resume stalled peace talks, said Sunday it had sought government permission to deploy a ‘company-size’ MILF unit near Sultan Naga Dimaporo town next week to track down the kidnappers.
‘As a matter of policy, the MILF is obliged to exert its best efforts to help for the safe and immediate recovery of Father Sinnott’, MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim said in a statement.
The military earlier said it believed Fr Sinnott was snatched by a pirate and turned over to an MILF commander operating in the area. There was no immediate reaction from the government or the military on the MILF proposal.
Fr O'Donoghue said he felt ‘the government is not very happy with the MILF taking an active role’ in the hostage crisis.
