AUTHORITIES have identified one of the captors of Irish priest Michael Sinnott as a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s Special Operations Group even as rescue efforts for the kidnapped missionary led by Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno got under way.  
    
Ranking police officials said the Philippine National Police on Saturday started efforts to recover Sinnott, with Puno supervising the arrangements.  The officials did not elaborate. 
 
Armed Forces chief Gen. Victor Ibrado, for his part, said military rescue operations might be needed to ensure the fast and safe recovery of the 79-year-old Irish priest from the hands of his captors.
   
The Armed Forces, however, will not push through with military action without the green light from the local negotiators. “We’re taking cue from the (committee). If they feel that there is no hope in the negotiations, then, all we want is a signal from them so that we can conduct rescue operations,” said Ibrado.
   
Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (Dipo)-West Director Felizardo Serapio said a rebel leader linked to Sinnott’s abduction was Wanning Abdusalam, a member of the MILF’s Special Operations Group, who has a standing warrant of arrest for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of Fr. Gian Carlo Bossi in 2007. He was released after 39 days in captivity.
   
Serapio said Abdusalam, along with five other MILF rebel leaders, were summoned by government officials on Friday for questioning regarding the abduction of Fr. Sinnott.