COTABATO CITY – Soldiers of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID) have been alerted to launch a search and rescue mission for the kidnapped Irish priest, Fr. Michael Sinnott, if the abductors bring their hostage to its area of responsibility, an Army general said Saturday.

Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton, 6th ID chief, said he has alerted his troops, especially the anti-terrorist unit and the 603rd Infantry Brigade (IB) based at Camp Abubakar, the former conclave of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Maguindanao.

“I have ordered my elite anti-terror unit, the Special Forces and the Scout Rangers, and the 603rd Brigade headed by Col. Ernesto Araganas, to closely monitor the presence of Sinnott if his kidnappers will bring him into my area of responsibility,” Cayton said.

Cayton disclosed this following a report that the kidnap gang has brought the sickly 78-year-old Irish priest to Lanao del Norte shortly after he was seized by six gunmen from his Columban residence in Pagadian City.

“And if the kidnappers sneak in Fr. Sinnott, we will do our best to rescue him safely,” Cayton stressed, as he appealed to the public to provide the Army and the police or civilian authorities of any information about Sinnott or his abductors.

Cayton also welcomed the pronouncement of the MILF to help in the safe recovery of the missionary priest, who is reportedly weak and had a recent heart-by-pass operation, as well as, loved by the people of Pagadian City and environs.

The three provinces covered by the 6th ID are North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao, which borders the province of Lanao del Sur.

Cayton said that while the military is observing the suspension of military operations as ordered by President Arroyo, the Armed Forces could launch operations in support to the police for the search and rescue of any kidnap victim, extortion or terrorism.

Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, Western Military Command chief, revealed that Fr. Sinnott was allegedly sighted in the tri-boundaries of the towns of Nunungan and Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del Norte and Ticong of Lanao del Sur.