DILG to oversee PNP efforts to free Sinnott

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has begun efforts to "rescue" kidnapped Irish priest Michael Sinnott, with Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno personally monitoring the arrangements, a Malacañang official indicated Saturday.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Puno, who pointed out secessionist rebels to the kidnapping, was in Mindanao Friday to personally supervise the efforts.

"Alam ko kahapon he was in Mindanao at personal (na i-supervise) ang operation ng PNP para sa safe rescue kay Fr. Sinnott (As far as I know, Puno was in Mindanao Friday to personally supervise PNP operations for Sinnott's safe rescue)," Remonde said on government-run dzRB radio, but did not elaborate.

Remonde at the time was responding to a question on whether Puno was among the Cabinet secretaries who will quit his post in time for the 2010 elections.

Last month, Puno announced he was no longer joining the vice presidential race.

The military had said rescue operations will be a last resort, and that it will have to be cleared prior to crisis management committee led by the local government.

Puno earned the ire of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after he pointed the MILF was behind the abduction of Sinnott in Pagadian City last October 11.

Also last month, a video of Sinnott was aired on television where the 79-year-old missionary held an October 22 newspaper and said his captors were demanding $2 million for his release.

On the other hand, the MILF angrily denied Puno's claims and demanded that the Philippine government "correct" Puno's statements.

The MILF also said one of its commanders, who Puno linked to the abduction, enjoys the support of his peers when he attended a recent caucus of the secessionist group in Mindanao this week.

Commander Aloy Al Ashree of the MILF's 113th Base Command attended the caucus where the MILF's top commanders urged government to stop blaming him for Sinnott's abduction.

"Placing the blames on Brother Aloy by the government, particularly by Sec. Ronnie Puno of the DILG, is malicious, unfair and blatant violation of the ceasefire accord," said the commanders at the caucus, according to an article posted Friday on the MILF website.

They also reiterated their call on government to deal with the "malicious accusations" by Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno linking Al-Ashree to the abduction.

Al-Ashree and the other MILF commanders attended a caucus where MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal told the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) to uphold the Agreement on the Civilian Protection Component (ACPC) of the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

The MILF article indicated the caucus took place Wednesday, the same day Iqbal cried foul over Puno's accusation linking the MILF to Sinnott's abduction last October 11.

"(The) truce and the civilian protection deal are very interrelated, hence, the MILF particularly the BIAF is enjoined to understand fully well and respect as well as uphold these agreements," Iqbal said at the caucus at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao.

Other BIAF general staff, front commanders and base commanders, and MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities participated in the caucus.

The Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agreed to adopt mechanism for the protection of civilian population and civilian properties against the danger arising from armed conflict situations.

Both sides signed the pact in a special meeting last October 27 in Kuala Lumpur under the facilitation of Malaysia.

"In response, the MILF military top brass vowed to adhere to the ceasefire and civilian protection agreements," the MILF said.

But the MILF brass sought an investigation into on the alleged rights violations of government troops against Bangsamoro civilians and purported war crimes.

They claimed government forces burned down more than 2,000 houses and destroyed civilian properties.

The MILF commanders also want the IMT to lead the investigation.

IMT is an international body composed of the governments of Malaysia, Brunei, Libya and Japan with monitoring of the ceasefire accord and rehabilitation and development aspects of the GRP - MILF peace process.