MANILA, Philippines—Favoring government decision to turn down the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's offer to help free Columban priest Fr. Michael Sinnott, the military said troops on the ground will have more "free hand" in operating in areas the kidnappers were believed to be hiding the priest.

"It's better that the MILF, especially the armed ones, [will not be involved] because we will have a free hand in operating in those areas," AFP spokesperson Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr. told reporters Wednesday in an interview at Camp Aguinaldo.

He was referring to the boundaries of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Zamboanga del Sur, where intelligence operatives have monitored the presence of Sinnott and his abductors.

Brawner said that if the MILF were allowed to help in the Irish missionary’s rescue, the chance of a "misencounter" between government troops and MILF fighters was higher.

"It will be more complicated so we are supporting the request of Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno," he added.

In a news briefing Tuesday, Puno closed the door on the MILF group's offer to help rescue the priest, claiming that members of the separatist group were behind Sinnott's abduction.

The 79-year-old priest was abducted by armed men on Oct. 11 while on an evening stroll outside the Columban Center in Pagadian City.

In a separate phone interview with reporters on Wednesday, MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal said the organization was mulling filing a protest initially before the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) over Puno's "irresponsible" statement.

He also said the group would eventually elevate the matter to the panel and inform the Malaysian facilitator.

"We urge the government to make a correction otherwise the MILF is considering withdrawing our support to the rescue of Father Sinnott and we will hold Puno accountable for the consequences of the situation," said Iqbal.

He warned that the accusations that the MILF was behind the kidnapping could impede the rescue of the priest, as well as the resumption of peace talks with the government.

Iqbal said Al Alshree, whom Puno claimed to be the leader of the group holding Sinnott, has been tasked by the MILF to work on the ground for the freedom of the priest.

"Now, they are destroying the credibility of our commander," said Iqbal.

He added: "We are put in a very difficult situation because if we cannot rescue the priest on the basis of that irresponsible statement, the government will say that we did not do what we were supposed to do."

"Then, if we rescued Father Sinnott, they would say that it's because the MILF was responsible for the kidnapping."