Newly-appointed Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Annabelle Abaya appealed on Saturday to kidnappers of Irish priest, Fr. Michael Sinnott to show “compassion” and voluntarily effect his safe and immediate release.

In a radio interview, Abaya, a former presidential spokeswoman and negotiator, asked Sinnott’s abductors, who were identified as rogue commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), to be compassionate and release the clergy unconditionally given his health condition.

She made request to all parties involved to work together to help in securing the freedom of the 78-year-old priest.

“Sa mga humahawak kay Fr. Sinnott para mapalaya na sya at kung isisipin na lang natin ang condition ng pari na may sakit pa, humihingi na lang tayo ng compassion para makalaya na sya,” she told an interview over government-run DzRB.

Abaya also said she is now “getting in touch” with the leadership of the MILF and the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People's Army to finally jumpstart the peace talks which seek to end the decades-old conflict in strife-torn Mindanao as well as the lingering insurgency.

She said during his meeting with the President, she was asked to give “progress” in the peace process both with the MILF and the communist group.

“Para magkaroon ng kapayapaan, patuloy tayong mag-usap,” she said.

The government’s peace talks with the MILF were halted following the non-signing of ancestral domain pact in Kuala Lumpur last year that triggered the intense fighting in Mindanao.