(Editor's note: Kidnappers of Fr. Sinnot, like the small robbers, need money very badly and not for a high cause as noted by the author.)

The old and helpless Irish priest is not known only in Pagadian, Central and Southern Mindanao. By now the ransom demand of $2 M is all over the front pages of all major dailies in Europe, especially Ireland, North America, South America, and most civilized countries in Asia and Africa.

Kind of fund campaign

National and world TV channels get all kinds of stories why a helpless priest who dutifully served his flock for more than one generation should be made a pawn for a faction’s fund campaign to buy more arms, bullets, uniform, shoes, etc.

Fr. Michael Sinnot does not serve an exclusive community. He has no instructions from his superiors to befriend the Christians only and die for them if necessary.

He loves Muslim/Christians

If he has lasted 39 years as priest and friend to Christians and Muslims this will put to rest all doubts that Fr. Sinnot, the 79-year-old Catholic priest, deserves universal love, respect and devotion.

The whole world does not know Pagadian, but identifies this town with the big island of Mindanao, as one of RP’s three main stars on the flag. If Mindanao – and its population of about 24 M – gets the blame for Fr. Sinnot’s kidnapping all RP or 92. 2 M of us will be known as suffering from a form of weakness that cannot extend protection to an old priest.

Thriving industry

Foreign visitors/tourists, by the tens of thousands, would definitely know by now that south of Manila there’s a thriving industry that depends on dollar ransom to support its mysterious activities.

Kidnapping with ransom and rape of foreign visitors make the Manila government overly sensitive and tends to keep its silence to avoid the so-called international complications. This attitude cannot suppress the disclosures by foreign media of major crimes the government cannot prevent or solve.

The AFP and PNP, and their thousands of men and soldiers, have been planning rescue operations for weeks without positive result. At the café there are suggestions that the NBI should take the lead in the rescue operation.

Let’s try the NBI

Why the NBI? This agency has tracked down the notorious Alvin Flores gang to its hideout in Cebu. NBI agents were credited with killing four of them and capturing one. The NBI paid unknown “assets” that led to the success of the operation.

Can $2 M (R95.5 M) support the unknown renegades’ activities? This is only a projection which most bands in Mindanao find conservative for a start.

Kamlon’s era

In the days of Kamlon in the early 1950s he never sent a ransom note to President Magsaysay who guaranteed fairness and high justice in his trial for murder.

Kamlon had asked Magsaysay that his favorite apo be given a suitable accommodation in his cell, which was quickly granted. Kamlon fought for a higher cause for his people – fair treatment in the grant of assistance to fishers and farmers in Sulu.

Exemplary conduct

He was granted absolute pardon for his exemplary conduct at the National Prison. In his town he was treated like a datu for his charity and fairness.

But the factions or bands today that roam the provinces and islands of Mindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi belong to a different breed. The high points of Islam don’t impress them at all. These young renegades cannot tell their parents and kin about the cause/causes they want to promote.

Unclear purpose

But asking a $2 M ransom is clear enough as to their purpose and intent. They need money very badly for unknown reasons.

The various bands in Mindanao will continue abducting helpless persons, and to most of us there is not a hint of a great cause that needs $2 M. (Comments are welcome at roming@pefianco.com).