COTABATO CITY — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has extended its ultimatum for the government to retract Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno’s statement that the rebel group has 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.

Ameen did not say how long the extension would last except by saying it would not be many days.

Ermita earlier told reporters to give the MILF the benefit of the doubt, while Abaya said the government has not blamed the rebel group.

“If they misinterpret our sincere effort to help by accusing us of committing the 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 on the accusation and we’re very sure, Puno will eat his words soon,” Ameen said in a statement.

The MILF’s ultimatum, which ended Monday, 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 Oct. 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 as well as the recent development where the military and police identified five MILF rebels as behind the abduction remains an allegation.

“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 the sending of some emissaries instead of a company-sized troop 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 said.

Sinnott’s superior, Fr. Pat O’Donoghue, the Philippines head of the Missionary Society of Saint Columban, reiterated an appeal to release their colleague.

He made the appeal as he denied saying he was “not in negotiations with anyone” regarding Fr. Sinnott’s release.

In a statement Sunday, O’Donoghue said they were optimistic that “whoever is holding Father Sinnott will consider his age, health and the esteem in which he is held by so many people, and not detain him any longer.” Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao