A notorious pirate leader in the southern Philippines kidnapped an elderly Irish priest and may have passed him on to Muslim rebels, the region's military chief said on Wednesday.

"We have identified the kidnapper of the priest as Guingona Samal, a notorious pirate leader in Zamboanga peninsula," said Major General Benjamin Dolorfino.

Six armed gunmen kidnapped Father Michael Sinnott (79) from his home at the Missionary Society of Saint Columban compound in Pagadian City in the southern Philippines on Sunday night in what appeared to be a well-organised operation.

Philippine authorities had until Wednesday not directly blamed anyone for the abduction.

Dolorfino said the military was seeking to verify intelligence reports that the pirate may have passed Sinnott on to a local commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The MILF, which has been fighting for an independent Muslim state in the south of this Catholic nation since 1978, on Tuesday denied any involvement in the kidnapping.

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AFP

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