Priest says captors treated him well

MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- An Irish Catholic priest who was held for a month by Islamic rebels in the Philippines said they treated him kindly and he would continue his missionary work.

The Rev. Michael Sinnott, 79, said after his release Thursday he harbored no ill will toward his captors, The Times of London reported.

"They were very, very kind to me," he told reporters in Manila, where he was flown to meet President Gloria Arroyo. "There is not a thing wrong with me and I hope to be able to continue my work for another few years at least here in the Philippines."

Sinnott, a member of the Missionaries of St. Columban, was delivered to the Philippines army in Zamboanga by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has fought for the liberation of the Philippines island of Mindanao, the Times said. The group said it had not kidnapped him but negotiated his release.

He had been kidnapped Oct. 11 from a Catholic mission on Mindanao. The kidnappers, described by government officials as gunmen aligned with a local rebel commander, had demanded $2 million before they would release the priest. But officials in Manila and Dublin said no ransom had been paid.

The priest, who had quadruple bypass surgery four years ago, managed to climb mountains and hike through swamps during his time in captivity.

"I am a bit old and I found hiking a bit difficult at times," Sinnott said. "I think that they'd be glad to kidnap a younger man next time. ... I would like to thank everyone who helped to get me free and all my friends who prayed for me while I was in captivity."