ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines ? For the military, there is no such person as Abu Jayad ? the man who claimed to be the leader of the kidnappers of Irish priest Fr. Michael Sinnott.

?There is no such thing as Abu Jayad that exists in the Abu Sayyaf Group. It is obvious that the kidnappers are using a fictitious identity to mislead operating troops,? Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, the Western Mindanao Command chief, told the Inquirer by phone.

?This Abu Jayad is non-existent. The kidnappers are trying to cover the real identities of the kidnappers,? he added.

But when asked who has been behind Sinnott?s abduction, Dolorfino begged off to give an answer. He said it was for the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Crisis Management Committee to say.

Earlier, Allan Molde, the CMC spokesperson and information officer of Governor Aurora Cerilles, said the video footage was handed to them ?by members of the enforcement agencies.?

He refused to say which government agency.

?What is important here is that Fr. Mick is alive and apparently he appeared healthy except that his eyes speak of loneliness,? Molde said.

He said Interior and Local Governments Secretary Ronaldo Puno met with the CMC on Sunday afternoon and the crisis committee would rather not issue any statements on the discussions.

?I do not know yet what is the next step for Sinnott,? Molde said.

Dolorfino, however, said government troops ?are now focused on intelligence and containment operations to gather more data as to who are these kidnappers hiding in the name of Abu Jayad.?

He said the troops have been prepared for a possible rescue operation, but the decision to take action would come from the CMC.