October 13, 2009, GMA News, 11:24 AM, No leads yet on Fr. Sinnott, abductors - AFP, by Melissa De Los Santos,

October 13, 2009, GMA News, 11:24 AM, No leads yet on Fr. Sinnott, abductors - AFP, by Melissa De Los Santos,

The Philippine military admitted Tuesday it still has no leads on the whereabouts of Irish priest Michael Sinnott and his abductors, two days after the latest kidnapping incident in southern Philippines took place. 

In an interview with GMA News' Arnold Clavio, military information chief Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. said intelligence operations have been intensified to gather information as to the identity of the group behind the incident.

"Nagsagawa tayo ng checkpoint operations at naval interdiction patrolkahapon, pero wala parin tayongleads kung nasaan mismo itong si Fr. Sinnott (We have been conducting checkpoint operations and naval interdiction patrol since yesterday [Monday] but we still do not have any leads on the whereabouts of Fr. Michael Sinnott)," Brawner said.

"Pinaigting natin ang ating (We have intensified our) intelligence operations together with the Philippine National Police, and of course, under the control of the Crisis Management Committee," he added. 

The 79-year-old priest was forcibly taken by armed men from the Columban House in Gates District at 7:20 p.m. on Sunday. Those close to the priest have reported that Fr. Sinnott has recently undergone a heart bypass operation, making the Irish missionary weak. [See: Gunmen seize Irish priest in Pagadian City] 

On Monday, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the National Police to create a task force that would focus on the rescue of Fr. Sinnott. [See: Arroyo orders PNP: Rescue abducted Irish priest]

Brawner said rescue operations will commence as soon as authorities are able to determine the identity of the group behind the incident as well as their location. - GMANews.TV