SINNOTT: MY KIDNAPPERS WANTED TO WATCH PACQUIAO FIGHT, TOO
MANILA, NOVEMBER 15, 2009 (STAR) By Evelyn Macairan - Irish Columban priest Michael Sinnott said his kidnappers released him because they wanted to watch the boxing match between people’s champ Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto.Sinnott said they wanted him out of their lair so that they could go down from the jungles and watch the match.
He said his kidnappers at one point asked him if he wanted his freedom back and he said yes.
“Then the kidnappers told me, ‘so do we. Your freedom is our freedom. We don’t want to be here for a long time too and we want to watch Pacquiao’s fight’,” Sinnott told the CBCPNews, the official news service provider of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Six gunmen abducted Sinnott, a long-time missionary in Mindanao, last Oct. 11 from his home in Pagadian City. His abductors demanded $2 million for his freedom.
Last Thursday, after a month in captivity, he was freed and the Irish and Philippine governments said they did not pay any ransom.
Sinnott also said the kidnappers finally released him because they were having a difficult time taking care of an old man like him.
“With my age and condition, they really don’t want to hold me longer. I am old, and I had a hard time walking,” he said.
Sinnott said he was held in “very primitive” conditions.
He slept in a swamp under a tarpaulin and was forced to walk for eight hours in the mountains.
“Because I am a bit old and I found hiking a bit difficult at times, I think they’d be glad to kidnap a younger man next time,” Sinnott told President Arroyo last Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Sinnott has been working for the Diocese of Pagadian, particularly for the Ministry for Handicapped of Kabataan Foundation since 1998. He has been in the country since 1976 and assumed several pastoral and administrative roles.
Meanwhile, Fr. Patrick O’Donoghue, regional director of the Society of Saint Columban Order where Sinnott belongs, said their missionaries would continue to serve in the country even after the kidnapping incident.
He said Sinnott’s kidnapping would not deter them in their goal of serving in the mountains of Mindanao.
There are at least 13 Columban priests assigned in the archdioceses of Cagayan de Oro and Ozamis and in the Diocese of Pagadian and are involved in various ministries from parish work to inter-religious dialogue with Muslims.
Police files raps vs MILF members
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against a commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and his four cohorts for Sinnott’s kidnapping.
PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa yesterday said they have a strong case against the five MILF members.
“We’re very certain, we have a strong case against the suspects,” Verzosa said.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Region 9 filed charges against MILF commander Saidamen Montaner, James Palwa, a certain Jimboy and two other unidentified persons before the Pagadian City prosecutor’s office last Friday.
The suspects are members of the MILF 113rd Base Command.
Verzosa also directed the police to investigate the place where Sinnott was held to search for more witnesses.
Sinnott denied that the MILF participated in his kidnapping and told reporters that his abductors belonged to a “lost command,” a term referring to former rebels who have turned to banditry.
Verzosa said they would carefully analyze Sinnott’s statement and compare it with the report of the joint investigation of the CIDG and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
He said they are still searching for witnesses who could tag other suspects like Commander Salip Aloy Alsree alias Puti Ulo, Nasser Macabato alias Commander Nasser Macari, Commander Latip Rajamuda alias Latip Jamat and Latip Tatutan, Waning Abdusalam alias Ustadz Waning, and Putot Jakaria alias Ustadz Putot.
Abdusalam and Jakaria both have standing warrants of arrest for the kidnapping and illegal detention of Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay in 2007. – With Roel Pareño
Priest urges Pinoys to stop betting on Pacman By Ramil Bajo (The Philippine Star) Updated November 15, 2009 12:00 AM
KORONADAL CITY , Philippines – A Catholic priest here urged Filipinos to stop betting on the fights of world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in respect for his putting his life on the line inside the boxing ring.
“They should stop their habit of betting money on every fight of Pacquiao because that is not good. Pacquiao is fighting for the country’s honor,” Fr. Roming Catedral, director of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Marbel, told The STAR yesterday.
“Some Filipinos are seeing Pacquiao’s fights as an opportunity to gamble and make money out of his pain and blood. They don’t understand the value of inspiration in his fights,” said Catedral, chairman of the Catholic Church’s justice and peace desk office here.
He said Pacquiao is a national treasure and should be afforded “great respect.”
“Placing money bets on his fight is a clear gesture of disrespecting his efforts and courage to bring fame and honor to a small country like ours,” Catedral said.
The priest said it is “very discouraging and painful” to see many Filipinos gamble on whether Pacquiao could beat his opponent, Puerto Rican boxing hero Miguel Cotto, in a few rounds only.
Pacquiao and Cotto will fight today at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Catedral said Filipinos instead should view Pacquiao’s fights as an “inspiration” to succeed in life.
“We all know that Pacquiao came from a poor family but because of his determination, he was able to reach his dream to become one of the most famous and richest boxers in the world. His story is indeed an inspiring one,” Catedral said.
The Catholic faithful have already started praying for Pacquiao’s victory today, Catedral added.
AFP will not let guard down
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday said that while they expect zero communist activity today because of the Pacquiao-Cotto fight, frontline troops are still under orders to be vigilant.
“Just like last year, today we are expecting a zero-incident but just the same we are not letting our guard down,” Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner of the Public Information Office (PIO) said.
“Let us unite and support Pacquiao’s fight with Cotto first,” Brawner urged the rebels.
The AFP is also putting wide screens at the AFP General Headquarters’ gymnasium at Camp Aguinaldo and Army gymnasium in Fort Bonifacio and at V. Luna Medical Center to air live the Pacquio-Cotto bout.
Brawner said these would give soldiers and their families a chance to watch the fight for free.
Brawner said AFP chief Gen. Victor Ibrado would watch the fight either at the General Headquarters gym or at V. Luna Hospital with the wounded soldiers confined there.
Meanwhile, outgoing Defense Secretary and administration presidential bet Gilbert Teodoro will also take time out of his busy schedule to watch Pacquiao’s fight.
While he and his running mate Edu Manzano have tickets at the Araneta Coliseum for the live televised bout, Teodoro said he has not yet decided whether he would proceed to Araneta.
“I wish you all the best as I join the Filipino people in praying for your success,” Teodoro said of Pacquiao in a text message sent to The STAR.
Vice President Noli de Castro will watch Pacquiao’s bout live today in Las Vegas.
De Castro, a godfather of Pacquiao’s youngest child, left for Las Vegas last Thursday night.
The Vice President described Pacquiao as a national treasure who brought pride and honor to the country.
Meanwhile, Pangasinenses are in full support of Pacquiao in his match today.
Photojournalist Willie Lomibao and Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. believe Pacquiao will win the fight.
“Manny’s footwork and punches are much quicker,” they said. – With Jaime Laude, Pia Lee-Brago and Cesar Ramirez
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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