Philippines will not pay ransom to free Irish priest

Manila: The government on Sunday reiterated its policy against paying ransom to hostage-takers even as an ailing Irish priest held captive in Mindanao personally appealed to authorities for compassion in a video.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, in a radio interview, said the government will never give in to the demand made by captors of Father Michael Sinnot for the payment of $2 million (Dh7.3 million) in exchange for the 79-year-old missionary's freedom.

"We will do everything possible to ensure Father Sinnott's release. However, we will stick to the internal policy of paying no ransom," Remonde said.

The government has long observed a policy of not paying ransom to kidnappers as a measure to avoid abductions, although the effectiveness of this strategy has been questioned as kidnappings persist especially in Mindanao.

According to Remonde, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno is expected to arrive in Zamboanga del Norte to address the situation.

Sinnott was abducted last month from the Society of Saint Columbian Compound in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. The priest's location remains unknown.

A video, made public on Saturday, showed Sinnott holding a copy of the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper of October 22.