MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 2) It was not the Moro Islamic Liberation Front but “original Lumad” from Mindanao that kidnapped Father Michael Sinnott, the Irish missionary himself said Thursday, hours after he was freed by his captors, a month following his abduction.

“They were not MILF. I’m very sure of that,” Sinnott told a press conference at the Villamor Air Base where he was flown by his Philippine Air Force Fokker plane from Zamboanga City.

It’s a group of “original Lumad” in Mindanao, said Sinnott, who was kidnapped in Pagadian City last October 11.

Sinnott’s statement disputed claims by government officials that it was the MILF that abducted the Irish priest – an allegation denied by the Muslim rebel group.

Sinnott said his captors told him that kidnapping was a way for them to get funds and that this was their way of “getting the message to international media.”

Sinnott said the abduction could not have been staged by the MILF because the Muslim rebel group condemned kidnap-for-ransom activities and this went against the teachings of the Koran.

Sinnott said his kidnappers told him that it was alright for the MILF to condemn these acts because the MILF get funding from international groups.

Sinnott also said that he was treated “well” despite the “primitive conditions” and “they could not have done more to make it comfortable for me.”

He said the kidnappers assured him that he won’t be killed after his abduction.

Sinnot said that despite what had happened to him, he was still willing to work in the Philippines but has to discuss this with his superiors at the Society of St. Columbans.

Sinnott said he would not file charges against anyone.

He said he was tired and lacked sleep.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Rafael Seguis, chairman of the GRP peace panel, reiterated that “definitely, absolutely” no ransom was paid.

Lieutenant General Ben Dolorfino, commander of the West Mindanao Command, said they have yet to gather and collate the information they got from Sinnott and their intelligence on the ground.

He added that law enforcement operations would be conducted against the perpetrators of the abduction but refused to give out their names.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, along with Irish Ambassador Richard O’Brian, welcomed Sinnott whose plane landed Thursday morning at the Villamor Air Base.

Sinnott was aboard a Philippine Air Force Fokker plane with body number 10620.

He was freed early Thursday by his abductors and handed over to the MILF.

Sinnott arrived at the military base around 10:30 a.m. from Zamboanga City, said Philippine National Police chief Jesus Verzosa.

Sinnott was accompanied by Dolorfino and Seguis.