ZAMBOANGA -- Moro rebels are thinking of withdrawing their effort to help in the rescue of a kidnapped priest in Mindanao even as the government still welcomes their support.

Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Committee on Information and concurrently its chief peace negotiator, said the Moro rebel group was dismayed by Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno's allegations that they are involved in the kidnapping of Fr. Michael Sinnott last October 11 in Pagadian City.

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

He said the accusations made by Puno over the kidnapping of Sinnott were unacceptable and damaged the goodwill established ahead of the planned peace talks with the government.

"We are now reaching to our counterparts in the government to stop all these accusations," Iqbal told reporters. "If Puno does not stop, we are considering halting our participation in the rescue effort."

"Let Puno be accountable for the consequences of his 'irresponsible statements'," Iqbal added.

On Tuesday, Puno rejected the Moro rebel front's offer to help in the negotiations for the release of Sinnott, saying a renegade group of the MILF led by Commander Aloy Al Asree is involved in the kidnapping.

He said the MILF's request last week to send a company-size contingent of 75 to 200 men to the kidnappers' lair indicates that the Moro rebel group has no control over Sinnott's abductors. He said the government will not anymore accept offer from the MILF.

But Presidential Spokesperson and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita clarified Wednesday that the government stands firm on its decision to accept the MILF's offer to help in the recovery of Sinnott.

Ermita said they are willing to give the benefit of the doubt to the MILF although some government sectors are skeptical about it.

He said the government is grateful that the MILF leadership has reported that it is trying to identify the whereabouts of Sinnott and his kidnappers.

The move, he said, is a sign of goodwill. But Ermita urged the Moro rebels to surface Asree, the alleged mastermind behind the abduction of Sinnott, as a test of sincerity.

Asree is the commander of the MILF's 113rd Based Command, which operates in Western Mindanao area, including the Lanao provinces.

MILF committee on information chair Khaled Musa, however, said Wednesday that Asree and his men are on the ground to determine the whereabouts of Sinnott and to jump off if necessary, taking utmost consideration of his safety.

"We are just hoping that that they (MILF rebels) are sincere and I believe they also know the consequences of their actions if ever they are not sincere," Ermita said.

Ermita also clarified that police and military forces are still conducting rescue operations and not generally relying to the MILF's investigation.

This was echoed by Major General Benjamin Mohammad Dolorfino, chief of Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), who said Wednesday that the military has already cordoned the area where kidnappers are believed to be holding captive Fr. Sinnott, who is suffering from a heart ailment.

Dolorfino said the cordon was made to contain the kidnappers' movement to prevent the transfer of Sinnott to another place.

He added that they already identified the kidnappers but refused to reveal who they are, including the whereabouts, so as not to jeopardize the "containment effort" of the troops.

Dolorfino and Ermita assured that the government is doing everything to ensure the safe release of the kidnapper Irish priest.

"What is important here is that we are putting pressure to the abductors of Fr. Sinnott so that they could release the father in good condition without being hurt and that they would not insist with such demand," Ermita said.

Sinnott, 79, a member of the Mission Society of Saint Columban (MSSC), has been held by the rogue elements of the MILF for about a month now after he was snatched by at least six gunmen from the MSSC compound in Gatas District, Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur.

The kidnappers of Sinnott earlier demanded a $2 million ransom, which the government and the MSSC rejected, saying they abide by the no ransom policy. (Bong Garcia/BOT of Sun.Star Davao/Jill Beltran/PNA/Sunnex)