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Three MILF charged over kidnap of Irish priest

Saturday, 14 November 2009

Rev Michael Sinnott, a 79-year-old Irish Catholic priest abducted in the Southern Philippines a month ago, talks to reporters in Zamboanga city also in southern Philippines following his release

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Irish begged Filipinos to call off armed priest rescue

Three suspected Muslim separatist rebels have been charged over the kidnapping of an Irish priest in the Philippines, the national police chief said today.

Director-general Jesus Verzosa said police filed charges of kidnapping for ransom and illegal detention with the prosecutor's office of southern Pagadian city yesterday.

The Reverend Michael Sinnott was kidnapped in the volatile south on October 11. He was freed unharmed on Thursday after a month in captivity.

The three suspects, alleged members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), have denied involvement and said they even helped pressure the kidnappers to release the 79-year-old priest.