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Abducted Irish priest freed in Philippines

Last Updated: Thursday, November 12, 2009 | 8:08 AM ET

CBC News

An Irish Catholic priest who was abducted in the Philippines just over a month ago was freed Thursday.

Armed men abducted Michael Sinnott on Oct. 11 from his home in the southern Philippines.

Irish Catholic priest Michael Sinnott arrives at the Villamor Air Base in suburban Manila on Thursday after a month in the jungle with abductors. (Aaron Favila/Associated Press)

Security officials said the kidnappers belong to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a separatist group in the southern Philippines that has fought for decades for Muslim self-rule in the predominantly Catholic country.

The Moro group has denied responsibility for the abduction.

Sinnott said there were some long and difficult journeys by water and through jungles as his abductors tried to evade government troops, but he said he was not harmed.

"They gave me lectures on their ideology, but apart from that, they treated me well," Sinnott said.

Neither Ireland nor the Philippines said they paid the $2-million US ransom that was demanded by the priest's kidnappers.

With files from The Associated Press

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Philippines deploys troops after priest abducted

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