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Puno willing to eat words for Fr. Sinnott

by Queenie Casimiro, ABS CBN News Zamboanga | 11/10/2009 2:59 PM

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 MANILA - Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno is now willing to give way to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to see if the group is really sincere in its desire to help secure the release of Fr. Michael Sinnott.
 
In a press conference in Zamboanga City on Tuesday morning, Puno said he is "willing to eat my words if it means the safety of Fr. Sinnott."
 
Puno was referring to the earlier insistence of the MILF that he take back his words that the MILF is involved in the missionary's kidnapping.
 
"We are adopting a wait and see attitude as far as the efforts of the MILF is concerned," said Puno.
 
However, Puno said that along with this, normal police operations are continuing.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group are now in Pagadian City and are preparing to serve notices to the six members of the MILF earlier identified by the police, for them to appear at a police station in Lanao del Sur for an investigation.
 
"We still maintain that these people are involved or may have an idea about the kidnapping," Puno said. "But we also want to believe that they really want to help."
 
Meanwhile, Puno also disclosed that the Area Crisis Management Committee (ACMC) already convened during the weekend.

The ACMC is composed of the CMC's of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, along with the commanders of AFP-Western Mindanao Command and Directorate for Integrated Police Operations, a representative from the Columban brothers and the Bishop of Pagadian.
 
Puno, however, said "there will be no rescue operations until we are assured of the safety of the kidnapped priest."