COTABATO CITY – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been somewhat mollified by the conciliatory statements given by Palace officials, after Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno accused the rebel group of having a hand in the abduction of Irish priest Michael Sinnott.

Muhammad Ameen, chair of the MILF Central Committee, said Monday that they were evaluating the statements of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, presidential adviser on the peace process secretary Annabelle Abaya, and government chief negotiator Rafael Seguis as the official line of the government, short of rebuffing Puno.

The three government officials have said they are giving the MILF the benefit of doubt; they would like the government to continue working with the MILF in rescuing kidnapped Irish priest Michael Sinnott; and that the government would not give up on its peace talks with the MILF.

The MILF earlier gave the government until Monday (Nov. 9) to retract Puno’s statement, or else the rebel group would no longer help in the rescue of Sinnott and would not cooperate in the peace talks.

With Palace officials’ statements meant to reach out to the MILF, the rebel group extended the "deadline" it imposed on the government for an official retraction, but the extension, Ameen said, would not last beyond a few days.

“If they misinterpret our sincere effort to help by accusing us of a crime, then we can do it on our own; after all, what is paramount now is the safety of the priest. The priest is very old and he is very ailing. We can deal with the accusation and we’re very sure, Puno will eat his words soon,” Ameen said in statement.

The MILF’s ultimatum was issued last week after Puno's statement placed the rebel group in a bad light. Puno blamed members of the 113th brigade of the MILF as responsible for the October 11 abduction of the missionary.

Sinnott, 79, who has a history of heart problems, was kidnapped by six armed men in Pagadian City.

Ghazali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone that Puno’s accusation and the claims of the military and police identifying five MILF rebels as among the priest’s kidnappers were just mere allegations.

“It’s not proven and it is incorrect to blame us,” Jaafar said.

The rebel official said they were offended by Puno when he advised to them to send a couple of emissaries instead of sending company-size troops to search for the foreign priest.

“Worse, he recommended, during interviews with other reporters, for us to use Indian drums instead of firearms in pressuring Sinnott’s kidnappers. It’s an insult,” Jaafar stressed.

Sinnott’s superior, Father Pat O'Donoghue, the Philippine head of the Missionary Society of Saint Columban, reiterated an appeal for the release of their colleague.

He made the appeal and denied being in negotiations with anyone on Fr. Sinnott’s release.

In a statement Sunday, O’Donoghue expressed optimism that “whoever is holding Fr. Sinnott will consider his age, health and the esteem in which he is held by so many people, and not detain him any longer.”