ZAMBOANGA -- Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno personally supervises the rescue efforts of Irish priest Michael Sinnott as one of his captors was identified in the earlier kidnapping of an Italian priest.

Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (Dipo)-West Director Felizardo Serapio said Wanning Abdusalam, a member of Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) Special Operations Group, has a standing warrant of arrest for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of Fr. Gian Carlo Bossi.

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Bossi, 59, a member of the Pontificio Istituto Missioni Estere (Pime) was kidnapped on June 10, 2007 in the town of Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay. He was released after 39 days in captivity in a secluded place in Karomatan town, which is now known as Sultan Naga Dimaporo, in Lanao del Norte.

Serapio said Abdusalam, along with five other MILF rebel leaders, were summoned by government officials on Friday for questioning regarding the abduction of Fr. Sinnott in Pagadian City last October 11.

National Police Chief Jesus Verzosa, however, clarified that Abdusalam and the other five MILF rebel leaders, are not necessarily the suspects but “they may have some knowledge on the incident.”

“The presumption of innocence is in place here. We are not saying they are guilty. We are saying they are suspects. That is why we are giving them the opportunity to prove their innocence,” Verzosa said.

The police said as of Saturday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has already started efforts to recover Sinnott, with Puno supervising the arrangements.

Puno earlier earned the ire of the MILF after he tagged Commander Aloy Al Alsree of the MILF’s 113th Base Command as behind the kidnapping of Sinnott last October 11.

The MILF angrily denied Puno’s claims, saying Al Alsree was tasked by the Moro rebel front to rescue the kidnapped priest. The Moro rebels demanded that the Philippine government “correct” Puno’s “irresponsible” statements.

Alsree was one of those Moro rebel leaders who were summoned Friday for questioning, along with Abdusalam.

The MILF said Alsree and the other MILF commanders attended a caucus where the Moro rebel group’s chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal told the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) to uphold the Agreement on the Civilian Protection Component (ACPC) of the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

The caucus took place Wednesday, the same day Iqbal cried foul over Puno’s accusation linking the MILF to Sinnott’s abduction.

“(The) truce and the civilian protection deal are very interrelated, hence, the MILF particularly the BIAF is enjoined to understand fully well and respect as well as uphold these agreements,” Iqbal said.

Other BIAF general staff, front commanders and base commanders, and the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities participated in the caucus.

As of Saturday, Zamboanga del Sur Governor Aurora Cerilles said they still don't have any communication with the kidnappers of the Columban priest.

She said the local government has already activated an Area Crisis Management Committee (ACMC) and an Executive Committee (Execom) to work for the speedy recovery of Sinnott from the hands of his captors.

A Crisis Management Committee (CMC) was also created in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, where Sinnott is believed to be held captive since he was snatched inside the MSSC compound in Gatas District, Pagadian City, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur. (Bong Garcia/With JMR/Sunnex)