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MANILA, Philippines?(UPDATE) The Moro Islamic Liberation Front gave the government until the end of the week to retract Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno?s statement the secessionist group has a hand in the abduction of Irish priest Michael Sinnott.
If the government would not heed their demand, the MILF would call off its own operations to rescue Sinnot, said Sammie Al-Mansoor, chief of staff of the MILF-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces.
"The MILF finds it too difficult to continue with our rescue operation of the priest, unless the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, our partner in the peace process, comes up with a statement to negate the effects of Puno's unfortunate statement," Al-Mansoor said in his letter, a copy of which was obtained by INQUIRER.net.
He said Puno's statement has placed the MILF in a bad light, especially in the international community.
Puno has blamed members of the 113th brigade of the MILF as responsible for the October 11 abduction of the Catholic missionary.
Sinnott, 79, who has a history of heart problems, was kidnapped by six armed men in the southern city of Pagadian on Mindanao island.
Al-Mansoor?s letter, dated November 5, called Puno?s statement ?suspicious and malicious.?
?The statement did not only put the MILF in a bind: ?Damn if we do (the rescue) and damn if we don?t,?? Al-Mansoor said.
"To us, the meaning of his statement is two-fold: to give negative zero value to the MILF's rescue efforts and to shame the MILF before the international community," he added.
Al-Mansoor also said Puno's statement virtually branded the MILF as "kidnappers."
"The decision to put on hold our role in the rescue mission is a difficult one to make but we have to make it. There is no other way," Al-Mansoor added.
He stressed the MILF?s ?respect for fellow human beings and uncompromising stance against kidnapping of all forms.?
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Victor Ibrado said troops continue to take their cue from the local crisis management committee activated for Sinnott?s immediate release.
?If they feel that there is no hope in the negotiation then all we want is a signal from them so that we can conduct rescue operations,? Ibrado told reporters.
Since 1978 the 12,000-strong MILF has been waging a rebellion for an independent Islamic state in the southern third of this mainly Catholic country. It signed a ceasefire with Manila in 2003, but the peace talks were suspended last year when MILF commanders launched deadly raids across Mindanao. With a report from Agence France-Presse
