By Julie Alipala

Irish missionary Michael Sinnott, who was abducted by a Muslim rebel group in Southern Philippines on October 11, has been freed by his kidnappers on Thursday morning, according to officials from the military, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Irish government.

Lieutenant General Ben Dolorfino, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief, said Moro Islamic Liberation Front members, who were tasked to help free Sinnot, turned over the priest to Ambassador Rafael Seguis, chairman of the government peace panel, and Major General Reynaldo Sealana, head of the Philippine government's Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities.

"We got Fr. Sinnott!" Wesmincom spokesman Major Ramon David Hontiveros said in a text message.

Prime Minister Brian Cowen said he was relieved to learn Sinnott had been freed, adding "all our prayers have been answered."

"We are all relieved and thankful that Father Michael's difficult ordeal has been brought to an end and that all our prayers have been answered," he said.

"On behalf of the government, I want to commend the government of the Philippines and our Ambassador Richard O'Brien, and our officials who have all worked with great commitment and resolve to bring about Father Michael's release," he said in a statement.

The report of the 78-year-old Sinnott's release was also relayed by Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin late Wednesday (November 11) in Belfast.

"He has been handed over to a clinic where he is being looked after and medically checked," said Martin, who was in Belfast for meetings.

"He is as well as can be expected," he added.

Sinnott has a history of heart problems and his religious order, the Society of St. Columbans, has repeatedly expressed fears about the impact the ordeal would have on his health.

Martin said no ransom had been paid by the Irish government, despite demands from his captors for US$2 million (S$2.7million) for his safe release.

"To do so would only have jeopardised the vital work of aid workers and missionaries around the world - it would also place other Irish citizens in danger," Martin said in a separate statement.

Sinnot was turned over to members of the Task Force formed by the MILF, said Mohagher Iqbal, chief negotiator for the Muslim rebel group.

"Sinnot has just been freed. We turned him over to the government around 4:30am at Sangali village in Zamboanga City," Iqbal told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

Asked about the identities of those behind the kidnapping, Iqbal said: "I cannot give you exact details because it's part of the deal we made with them."

There was no ransom paid to Sinnot's kidnappers, Iqbal confirmed.

Dolorfino described Sinnott as "ok" and considered his release "a big confidence-building measure in forthcoming peace talks."

Dolorfino said Sinnott, who was undergoing medical checkup at the Wesmincom, appears disoriented "but quite healthy."

Martin said Sinnott had shown great strength during his ordeal despite his age and difficult health.

"Father Michael has spent much his life working for the poorest of the poor in the Philippines, and I know that the ordinary people of the Philippines will be overjoyed to have him returned safe and well to his community," he said.

With reports from Jeoffrey Maitem and Katherine Evangelista