MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified the Irish priest's kidnappers to be members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 113rd Base Command headed by Commander Aloy Alsree.

“This is a sizable number but we have to check on the exact elements that are now involved there," PNP Chief Jesus Versoza said.

Cartographic sketches of kidnappers of Fr. Michael Sinnott, 79, a member of the Missionary Society of Saint Columban (MSSC), are already in the hands of the PNP.

In a meeting in Pagadian City with the Crisis Management Group, which is directly communicating with the kidnappers, Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the MILF asked that it be allowed to send a company-size delegation to communicate with the kidnappers.

The request was denied, according to Puno. (Angela Casauay/Sunnex)