MANILA (AFP) – – The Philippines on Sunday rejected a two million dollar ransom demand by the kidnappers of an elderly Irish Catholic priest in the troubled south but said it would continue efforts to ensure his release.

Paying money to free Father Michael Sinnott, 79, went against state policy, a spokesman for President Gloria Arroyo, Cerge Remonde, told AFP.

“We will do everything to ensure his safe release,” Remonde said. “We will, however, stick to the international policy of paying no ransom.”

He said security forces on the southern island of Mindanao were continuing efforts to locate Sinnott, who was seized by gunmen from his missionary office in the southern city of Pagadian on October 11.

“Even the MILF is helping,” Remonde said, referring to the 12,000-strong separatist group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is negotiating a peace deal with the government.

Sinnott’s kidnappers have released a video of the priest, showing him holding an October 22 issue of a newspaper in the the first proof of life obtained by the local press.

“My kidnappers are led by commander Abu Jayad. They are asking two million US dollars as ransom money,” the priest said while standing in front of what appeared to be a bed sheet or table cloth in a forested area.

“We are living in the open, in difficult circumstances. I am still in good health even if I do not have the full medicines.”

Full Story: AFP/Yahoo PH