MANILA, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Government forces have cordoned off the location of the kidnappers of 78-year-old Irish priest Michael Sinnott who was snatched at his residence in Pagadian City on Sunday night, a ranking Philippine military official said on Tuesday.

    Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, commander of the military's Western Mindanao Command, said the suspects and the victims are now contained after at least three sightings by informants. He would not say the area so not to cause undue alarm.

    "Since yesterday (Monday) up to now, we have three reported sightings. We cannot disclose (the place) but the effort of the military and the police is to contain them in that particular area," Dolorfino said. He also said that four Navy vessels have also put up another "cordon" from the sea.

    He said the military operation is in coordination with the police's Task Force Sinnot which was formed during last Monday's meeting of the provincial Crisis Management Committee chaired by Gov. Aurora Cerilles.

    When asked if there is no chance for the suspects to break through the cordon, Dolorfino said: "There is always a possibility but this is deterrence (on the kidnappers), they know they are being watched, so we need to restrict them in that particular area," he said.

    "We have four Philippine Navy watercraft cordoning from the sea. Our effort at present is to contain them in that particular area. On the ground, the military have put checkpoints," Dolorfino also said.

    Officials have yet to pinpoint the suspects' group affiliation but military's public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr said there was possibility that they are members of the Abu Sayyaf, a terrorist group involved in high-profile kidnappings and bombings.

    The military said at least six suspects seized Sinnott from the Columban House at Gatas district in Pagadian City. Reports said the priest was strolling at the garden outside his house when he was kidnapped.

    Sinnot was then forced into a getaway vehicle which was found burned at the Sta Lucia district. The suspects then boarded a speedboat.

    Dolorfino would not say the exact number of the people holding Sinnott but said their number will definitely increase from the original six.

    "Definitely, they have companions, they have their own networks. At present, we are building up our intelligence operations to identify the key personalities. What's important is intelligence buildup and then containment in that particular area," he said.

    Dolorfino could not immediately say the condition of Sinnott when sighted. "There was no report to that effect. The report is just sighting of the victim...This (sighting) came from our informant. This are reports from our intelligence community," said Dolorfino.

    Allan June Molde, spokesman of the provincial Crisis Management Committee, said the suspects have yet to contact authorities. The committee was convened Monday to find ways to secure the freedom of Sinnot.

    "As of now, we are hoping that they will send feelers because we are not getting information from them, no one is making demand. We are waiting to when that (feelers) will happen," Molde told a separate phone interview.

    On Monday, 1st Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Romeo Lustestica said that he is inclined to believe that the kidnappers are out for money.

    When asked if the crisis committee will consider paying ransom to gain the freedom of Sinnott, Molde said: "I think the demand should be made first...I cannot give much comment on that because there are no negotiations going on, there are no demands. They (suspects) are silent."

    Molde said the crisis committee is worried over the kidnapping because Sinnott has undergone quadruple heart bypass.

    He said he talked to the Columban's regional director, Pat O'Donoghue, who described the kidnapping as "the worst thing that ever happened. We cannot do anything but to wait. And that is what we are doing now."

    Molde said the crisis committee, which includes the military and the police as members, have yet to establish the group affiliation of the suspects. "We have no information as to their group. No group has claimed responsibility for it," he said.

    On the location of the kidnappers, Molde said they have no information on it but the military is monitoring some areas, which includes the coastal areas of zamboanga del Norte and Lanao del Norte.

    Meanwhile, government forces arrested a suspected Abu Sayyaf member involved in the kidnapping a priest and scores of pupils, and teachers in Sumisip, Basilan.

    Westmincom spokesman Maj. David Hontiveros said Alih Mandangan was nabbed by troops around 10 p.m. Monday at Rio Hondo village in Zamboanga City while aboard a van.

    Hontiveros siad Mandangan was turned over to the Zamboanga City regional trial court where the suspect is facing a charge of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.

    In Tawi-tawi, troops arrested at the Bongao pier a sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf last Saturday, Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo reported on Tuesday.

    Arevalo said the suspect, Abdulkahil Mallah, also known as Ibni Acosta, is affiliated with the ASG's Urban Terrorist Group. He was about to board a vessel bound to Zamboanga City - where he was supposed to seek a treatment for a gunshot in the neck - when arrested.

    Mallah and three of his men were attacked by an unidentified suspect on Oct. 9 for an unknown reason.

    Arevalo said Mallah has a standing arrest warring for 21 counts of kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention. The government has put up a 3.3-million-Peso (71,000 U.S. dollars) reward for his neutralization.

    "He did not resist arrest. Mallah, guarded by the Marines is back at the hospital undergoing medical treatment for his wound," said Arevalo.