PAGADIAN CITY -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has considered as an affront to the peace process the accusation of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

It was learned that Puno said the rebel group has a hand in the kidnapping of Irish missionary priest Michael Sinnott.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

In a statement posted in its official website, the MILF also branded as "a cheap propaganda mileage" the claim that its 113rd Base Command in Lanao del Norte pulled off the abduction of Sinnott in the convent of the Missionary Society of Saint Columban here last October 11 and has been holding him since then.

The rebel group said "even granting" that its "rogue elements" were responsible for the action, the kidnapping does not make it an act of the entire MILF.

The MILF has accused Puno and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro as the ones who "keep on stabbing us on the back" which, it said, frustrates its effort to recover Sinnott "for the sake of justice, humanity, goodwill and friendship."

Puno announced Tuesday that the National Government is junking the MILF offer to launch a rescue mission for Sinnott on account that its men are the principal suspects in the kidnapping.

The rebel group said it "takes very special attention" to the Sinnott kidnapping because of the personal appeal relayed to it by Irish ambassador to the Philippines and Singapore Richard O' Brien who met with MILF rebel leaders last month in Camp Darapanan, Maguindanao.

It also said the rebel leadership has received appeals from Seinne Fenn leaders Gerry Kelley and Martin McGuinness who have been briefing MILF officials about the peace formula in the northern Ireland conflict.

"Whoever is subjected to an evil act deserved to be helped in every way possible," the MILF statement read.

Amid the highly charged discourse, an official of the Zamboanga del Sur Crisis Management Committee (CMC) clarified that as far as the multi-sectoral body is concerned, there was nothing conclusive pointing to MILF responsibility in the Sinnott kidnapping.

CMC spokesperson Allan June Molde said the same information used by Puno were the same ones available to and being considered by the CMC.

"A lot of information relating to the incident pertains to MILF responsibility. But we were very careful against rushing judgment because these were still largely unverified," Molde said.

He added that the CMC is also conscious of the possible impact on the peace process between government and the Moro rebels of any premature tagging of the MILF in the abduction.

The military, through the Army's 1st Infantry Division and the Philippine National Police's Task Force Zebra, works under the direction of and reports tactical information to the CMC, which is chaired by Zamboanga del Sur governor Aurora Cerilles.

Molde said what is categorical is the location where Sinnott was brought and is currently being kept -- a jungle lair between Sapad and Nunungan towns of Lanao del NOrte, and Sultan Gumander town of Lanao del Sur.

Molde explained that the MILF was tagged in the kidnapping because the area where Sinnott is kept is within its area of influence "so it follows that they could be responsible for the act."

Nevertheless, Molde said they are bound to toe the Puno line "because they might have some information which was not available to us."

"We just hope all these redound to hastening the recovery of Fr. Sinnott," Molde said.

The recent heightened tension between government and the MILF over the high-profile kidnapping incident came on the heels of the release of a video that served as "proof of life" of Sinnott. (Ryan D. Rosauro)