Separatists defend leader accused of kidnapping priest

Manila: A separatist group criticised a senior Philippine official for falsely accusing a rebel commander of being a kidnapper when he has been negotiating for the release of Irish priest Michael Sinnott in the southern Philippines.

"We are now reaching to our counterparts in the government to stop all these accusations. It's a very unfortunate for Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno of accusing the very unit tasked to help secure Sinnott's release," Mohagher Iqbal, chief negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said in a radio interview.

Earlier, Puno said that Aloy Al Ashree, commander of the MILF's 113th Brigade, was behind Sinnott's kidnapping.

"If Puno will not stop, then we will stop helping secure the priest. Secretary Puno should be blamed if something happens to Father Sinnott." Iqbal said.

Father Sinnott underwent open heart surgery four years ago.

"We have been talking for foreign diplomats, including those from Ireland and London, on the issue of Mindanao conflict. If we are behind the abduction, we are just destroying our image with them," argued Iqbal.

MILF vice chair for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar admitted that the MILF has a list of the leaders of Sinnott's kidnapping, but added he could not divulge their identities.

"It's not healthy for us to trade accusations," Jaafar said.

Earlier, Sinnott appeared on TV and read a statement from his kidnapper, who demanded for a $2 million (Dh7.3 million) ransom payment. Government and religious leaders rejected the demand.