Government security forces will continue to lead rescue operations of kidnapped Irish priest Michael Sinnott even as they welcome any foreign assistance for such effort, Malacañang said Sunday.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said government troops are pulling all stops to run after the group that abducted the 79-year-old priest in Pagadian last week.

Olivar made the remark after the Columban Missionaries reportedly appealed to the United States government to intervene in the rescue operations of Sinnott amid fears he need urgent medical attention due to his heart problems. The group sent a letter to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to ask US President Barack Obama to negotiate the release of the Catholic priest.

“I don’t think we are rejecting any help from other countries, including the United States, but our forces will be leading this rescue mission," Olivar said.

Olivar explained that the country’s soldiers and policemen know the “situation on the ground, the balance of forces, and how the kidnappers of Fr. Sinnott think” better than their counterparts abroad.

He said they respect the decision of the Columban Missionaries to seek Washington’s help since they are concerned about the welfare of their fellow priest. “But people should know that the government and our Armed Forces and Philippine National Police are doing its best to recover safely Fr. Sinnott,” he said.

Olivar said government troops have actually pinpointed the place where the kidnappers are hiding “so we can expect they are exhausting all means to rescue the priest.”