Fourteen days after Irish priest Fr. Michael Sinnott was forcibly seized by armed men in Pagadian City and still with no word from his abductors, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is demanding that his kidnappers show proof of life.

The AFP made the call even as it dismissed reports about the alleged death of the abducted priest as mere rumors.

Meanwhile, local authorities in Pagadian City also made an appeal to stop speculating on the priest’s possible location and situation since it does not help in solving the problem.

While the local crisis management committee admitted it is clueless on the whereabouts of Fr. Sinnott, the military, on the other hand, said it is looking at a general area where the kidnappers could have brought the priest.

“Mayroon tayong alam na general direction, general area, that is why ang ating Armed Forces are conducting cordon operations. Mayroon tayong mga checkpoints sa mga possible areas na gamitin nila for escape,” AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said.

“Dito naman sa coastal areas mayroon tayong naval interdiction patrols to prevent the kidnappers from escaping.”

Brawner also said that while they consider reports about the alleged death of the priest as “still a rumor”, they are nonetheless “demanding that the kidnappers give us proof of life.”

He also assured that efforts are being done to gather information, particularly on the condition of Sinnott, his whereabouts, or who the kidnappers are.

Brawner further said the kidnappers have to show proof of life as the CMC is doing everything to establish contact with the suspects.

The CMC’s spokesman, Allan June Molde, also appealed to the public not to engage in speculations.

“We are appealing to the public to let the CMC do our job. Mahirap talaga ang sitwasyon namin dito. Everybody is very, very worried about the situation of Fr. Sinnott but somehow nakaka-discourage pag may lumalabas na information na nandito sa ganito pero wala naman pala,” he said.

He also said local authorities in the Diocese of Pagadian have been trying to send medicines for the ailing priest but to no avail.

“The church has sent so many emissaries dun sa mga lugar na nandun daw. So they have been sending a lot of emissaries and then as to the feedback if nakarating yun gamot yun po yung worry nila din kasi hanggang ngayon wala silang feedback na natatanggap,” Molde said.

“He (Fr. Sinnott) has undergone quadruple heart bypass in 2007, he has to take his medicines and he has to take exercises but he is refrained from taking extra strenuous activities. That worries our governor and most especially the bishop of Pagadian,” he said.

“He does not deserve this kind of situation. Kaya we are appealing to anybody na sana palayain na din si Fr. Sinnott because at the age of 79 and with his heart condition, kung puwede sana hindi siya ma-stress out,” Molde added.