Video of Sinnott indicates talks under way, says general Ryan Rosauro Inquirer Mindanao
November 04, 2009
PAGADIAN CITY—Apart from serving as proof of life, the video of Fr. Michael Sinnott suggests that the negotiation with the group holding him is under way, according to the chief of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).
The video shows the Irish missionary holding a copy of the Oct. 22 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. It was released by the kidnappers to authorities and the media only on Oct. 31.
The Westmincom chief, Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, said the onset of the negotiation could have preceded the video’s release or that the contact leading to its start was made from there.
But he refused to elaborate, saying he and his men were mandated only to handle the military aspect of the effort to recover the ailing Sinnott, who turns 80 next month.
Dolorfino pointed out that a negotiation should not be narrowly equated with haggling over a ransom amount—in Sinnott’s case, a staggering $2 million.
He said negotiating for Sinnott’s release could include such bargaining cards as a promise of development projects for communities, and pressure on the kidnappers from highly influential individuals and groups.
“All of these are being exerted by the Crisis Management Committee (CMC),” Dolorfino said.
The military is represented in the CMC by the 1st Infantry Division chief, Maj. Gen. Romeo Lustestica.
Only one-way
But CMC spokesperson Allan June Molde said the multisectoral body’s communication with the kidnappers was “only one-way—that is, they are sending us a message like the video, but we are still wanting of ways to send ours to them except through the media.” At this stage, the military has maintained its containment operation in order to block the kidnappers from moving to another area, Dolorfino said.
He said that of the three containment areas identified, the top priority in terms of focus was southern Lanao del Norte.
Dolorfino said the military was “preparing for any eventuality,” like the possible launch of an immediate rescue operation.
He said that with the existing coordinating mechanisms with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, misencounters could be avoided in the event such an operation was launched.
Not the last kidnapping
At a forum yesterday in Manila, Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz said the abduction of Sinnott would likely not be the last despite the government’s avowed no-ransom policy.
Cruz said he doubted that the policy was being followed given the continuing kidnapping of civilians by bandit groups in Mindanao.
“My heart goes out to Father Sinnott because he’s an elderly, like I am an elderly, and with a heart condition. I can’t understand why we can’t put an end to kidnapping even with the no-ransom policy,” said Cruz, a former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
“I am baffled because the administration is quite definite in saying it has a no-ransom policy. But why do kidnappings for ransom persist?” he said.
Both Malacañang and Catholic Church leaders have rejected the $2-million ransom demand by Sinnott’s abductors.
By whatever name
“I don’t know who delivers the ransom. Of course there’s negotiation and bargaining on how much. Under whatever name you call it [such as ‘board and lodging’], it’s still ransom,” Cruz said.
“So I’m sure there will be another kidnapping after this. How can it stop [when ransom is being paid]?” he said. With a report from Dona Pazzibugan in Manila
