ZAMBOANGA CITY – Kidnapped Irish Catholic missionary has been freed unharmed early Thursday in this city after a month in captivity through the intercession of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Authorities said no ransom was paid.

Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator in peace talks with the government, said Father Michael Sinnott, 79, was handed over to his government counterpart Rafael Seguis at around 4:22 a.m. in the coastal village of Sangali in this city.

“We are very happy with the recovery of Father Michael Sinnott.

It was a delicate operation and the priest is freed. We exerted great pressure to the group holding the priest and so was the family and relatives of those who held Father Sinnott,” Iqbal said.

Malacañang said the release marked a “good sign” for the eventual resumption of the peace talks between the government and the MILF while maintaining that manhunt operations against the abductors will be pursued.

Deputy presidential spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo said by helping secure the freedom of the Irish priest, the Muslim rebels have shown their sincerity in forging peace negotiations to resolve the lingering armed conflict in the strife-torn southern Philippines.

“We’re happy na nakatulong din po ang MILF sa pag-release niya dahil this is also a good sign that they are showing…’yung good faith po on the part of the MILF, considering that mag-uumpisa na ‘yung ating peace talks,” she told a press briefing.

The Palace official said Sinnott’s release and the arrival of visiting US State Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was just a coincidence in reaction to claims that the government intended the release during the US official’s visit.

When asked if the eventual release of the 79-year old priest was prompted by pressure brought forth by Clinton’s visit, Fajardo said: “There’s always a pressure for the government, every day, for the release and the safety of Fr. Sinnott—whether the Secretary of State, Secretary Clinton will arrive or not.”

President Arroyo met Sinnott at the Villamor Airbase before leaving for the opening ceremonies of the 36th Top Level Management Conference of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) at Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay City.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde and presidential adviser for peace process Annabel Abaya also welcomed Sinnott’s safe release. They thanked government security troops and the GRP-MILF Joint Ceasefire Committee who worked with the Crisis Management Committee and MILF leadership to get Fr. Sinnott out of harm’s way.

Sinnott’s freedom was welcomed by the international community.

“The European Commission welcomes the good news,” EC Charge d’ Affaires Gabriel Munuera said yesterday. “We hope that these developments will have a positive impact on the process and will facilitate the resumption of [the peace] talks.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs likewise expressed elation.

“It is with relief and elation that the DFA welcomes the safe release of Fr. Sinnott. We note the indispensable role played by the MILF central leadership in securing his release,” DFA spokesperson Ed Malaya said.

“These circumstances underscore the obligation of both sides in maintaining an environment conducive to the conduct of peace talks, which we all hope will bring lasting peace and progress to Mindanao,” he added.

Seguis said the release of the Irish priest will “facilitate the peace talks” and that the formal resumptionis expected “before Christmas.”

“Today marks the culmination of the hard work put in by the members of our Ceasefire Committees who, in coordination with the Crisis Management Committee and the MILF leadership, have demonstrated tremendous teamwork to ensure the success of this undertaking,” Seguis said.

Earlier, Seguis expressed confidence that the resumption of the peace talks with the MILF will push through as a dialogue is slated for the creation of the International Contact Group (ICG) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia within the month.

He said the next dialogue with the MILF, to be held in the middle of November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will seek to formalize the creation of the ICG.

Some of the groups reportedly being eyed to be part of the ICG are the European Union (EU) and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The MILF had also expressed its interest to involve the Japanese government in the ICG due to its humanitarian assistance in Mindanao.

Iqbal said no ransom was paid for Sinnott’s release. “Kidnapping is illegal in Islam and Father Sinnott’s recovery did not involve any money,” he said.

The kidnappers earlier demanded $2 million for the release of the missionary, but government negotiators said it would not pay ransom.

Sinnott was taken by six gunmen on October 11 from his Columban missionary house in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province and brought him to Lanao del Sur.

Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) chief Major Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, who took immediate custody of Sinnott, described the priest as “frail, but is okay and was examined by our doctors at WesMinCom headquarters.”

He said the priest was handed over to government people headed by Seguis and Army Brigadier General Rey Sealana, chairman of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities.

Fr. Sinnott said it took them 9 hours by boat to reach Zamboanga City where he was freed.

The kidnappers earlier brought him to a mountain hideout and later transferred him in a mangrove area, probably in Lanao, for 10 days until he was released, Dolorfino reported.

The Missionary Society of St. Columban said the priest had several heart surgeries in the past and has previously appealed to US President Barack Obama to help secure the safe release of Sinnott, who was the third Irish missioner to be kidnapped in Mindanao since 1997.

Iqbal also confirmed a military report that Commander Inggo, a notorious pirate leader in the Moro Gulf who seized Italian priest Fr. Gueseppe Pierrantoni a few years ago, was also the kidnapper of Sinnott.

“It is Guingona Samal, alias Commander Inggo, who seized Fr. Sinnott,” said Iqbal, adding that he was personally involved in freeing Fr. Sinnott.

Sinnot was supposed to be handed over at 9 p.m. Wednesday but due to strong waves and bad weather, they arrived only at 4:22 a.m. Thursday in Sangali, which is nearest from an island where Sinnot was held for a month by his kidnappers, Icbal revealed.

The MILF’s role to free Fr. Sinnott, Iqbal emphasized, was in answer to the appeal made by Irish Ambassador to the Philippines and Singapore Richard O’Brien and European Union Ambassador Alistair McDonald. The two diplomats met the MILF leadership in October 18 at Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat town, Maguindanao.

He said another meeting followed with Irish envoys Jerry Kenney and Martin also in Darapanan urging the MILF to facilitate the release of the Columban priest.

“Once again I am emphasizing that the MILF is not the kidnapper of Fr. Sinnot. The truth is the MILF rescued Fr. Sinnott. The case of Fr. Sinnot is a special case to the MILF, not only because he is a priest and a man of peace but because of the request of Ambassador Richard O’Brien and Ambassador McDonald,” Iqbal clarified.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, meanwhile, was also thankful with the safe release of Sinnott but expressed hopes that the incident won’t happen again.

“We appreciate and we are grateful to all those who worked for the release of Fr. Sinnott,” CBCP President and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said in an articles posted on the CBCP website.

“We are also hoping that a similar situation will not happen again. We have to treasure and be grateful to the missionaries working the people in Mindanao,” he added.

The Missionary Society of St. Columban also welcomed the news.

“It was with great joy and gratitude to God that we learned of Mr. Mick Sinnott’s release this morning,” Fr. Patrick O’Donoghue, regional director of the congregation, said.

O’Donoghue said he is sincerely thankful to all who helped in facilitating Sinnott’s release particularly to MILF Vice Chairman Ghazali Jaafar whose efforts led to the release of the priest.

Fr. Sinnott was recovered by task force of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front early dawn Thursday in Brgy. Sangali, Zamboanga City. (With reports from Charissa M. Luci, Madel Sabater, Elena Aben, Bong Reblando and Leslie Ann Aquino)