Fr. Sinnott Returning to Pagadian

MANILA, November 17, 2009-After over a month in captivity in the boondocks of Southern Philippines, Irish Missionary Fr. Michael Sinnott said he will definitely go back to Pagadian City.

Speaking at the CBCPNews - CMN sponsored public affairs program "The Forum" this morning, the missionary said he has considered Pagadian City his home.

Though he admitted everything would depend on the decision of his immediate superior Fr. Patrick O'Donoghue and Pagadian bishop Emmanuel T. Cabajar, CSsR, Sinnott is optimistic of this return within the next few days.

He said he's joining his congregation in celebrating the feast of St. Columban in Cagayan de Oro next week and may spend three or four days in his home in Pagadian City before going to Ireland for a month furlough.

Pressed by media if the Columbans or anybody else paid ransom to the kidnappers of Sinnott, O'Donoghue strongly denied they did saying, "If we start paying ransom, we will all become easy targets."

Besides, he said "missionaries are not commodities."

He added they have decided way back in the 70s when there were over a hundred Columbans doing missionary work in Mindanao that nobody would pay ransom should anyone of them gets kidnapped.

"If we start paying ransom, we will all become easy targets," Fr. O'Donoghue, the Columban's regional director emphasized.

Sinnot who first came to the Philippines in 1957 added "I was one of those missionaries who agreed not to pay ransom."

Sinnott said after his vacation in Ireland where he's expected to meet with Irish President Mary Mc Aleese, he will soon return to his convent in Pagadian City and be with his community. (Melo M. Acuña)