Manila - An abducted Irish Catholic priest was freed unharmed Thursday after one month in captivity in the southern Philippines, officials said. Father Michael Sinnott, 79, was turned over to authorities in Zamboanga City, 875 kilometres south of Manila, by the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), whose members were accused of being behind his kidnapping.
"He's very weak and appeared disoriented," said Major General Benjamin Dolorfino, a regional military commander.
Director General Jesus Verzosa, national police chief, said no ransom was paid for Sinnott's release.
"The MILF was pressured," he said.
The MILF, the largest Muslim separatist rebel group fighting for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines, has denied involvement in the kidnapping.
MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said a rebel task force recovered Sinnott from the kidnappers, who were led by a notorious Muslim bandit.
"We formed a task force to rescue Father Sinnott, and they were the ones who worked on the ground," he said. "The kidnappers turned him over to the MILF voluntarily because we pressured them, including their families."
"Due to our moral authority, the kidnappers could not do anything but to turn him over," he said.
Sinnott, who underwent a quadruple heart bypass in 2005, was abducted October 11 from the Columban Missionary House in Pagadian City.
The kidnappers had demanded 2 million dollars for his freedom.
In an interview with local television, Sinnott said he was not harmed by his kidnappers.
"I was treated very well," he said. "Once I had been kidnapped and brought to the boat, that was very rough. But after that, we were treated very well."
Verzosa said police would further investigate the kidnapping and file criminal charges against those involved.
"We will piece together all the evidence that we have, and we will charge those responsible in court in cooperation with Father Sinnott," he said.
Presidential spokesman Cerge Remonde hailed Sinnott's release.
"We thank all those responsible for this," he said. "There should be no letup in the manhunt operations against those responsible."
Sinnott was first assigned in 1957 in the southern region of Mindanao but left the country in 1966. He returned in 1976 and in 1998 established a school for disabled children in Pagadian City.
