MANILA, Philippines—Police have deployed more troops to surround the areas where kidnappers are believed to be holding Fr. Michael Sinnott, who was abducted in Pagadian City last October 11.

Allan June Molde, spokesman of Task Force Sinnott, said on Wednesday that troops from Task Group Sinnott have been deployed to patrol the coastal areas of the entire Zamboanga Peninsula.

Molde said another company of the 9th Regional Mobile Group was also sent in the region to augment the troops from Task Group Sinnott.

Troops are also scouring the areas of Tungawan, Olutanga Island, and Payao in Zamboanga.

In Lanao del Norte, a company-size contingent from the 10th regional mobile group under Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome was also deployed to contain the area.

Senior Superintendent Francisco Cristobal, head of Task Group Zebra, said that the troop deployment was already in “full operations for the law enforcement operations against the suspects.”

Police said Sinnott was believed to be held somewhere in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.

Troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines have likewise pre-positioned their troops in the 103rd and 104th Brigades in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur respectively.

Earlier, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno tagged rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s 113rd command as responsible for Sinnott’s abduction.

He said that the government would not be paying any ransom for Sinnott’s release.