Manila  - The Philippines' largest Muslim separatist rebel group on Friday said its forces were prepared to defend themselves if they come under fire from government troops hunting for the kidnappers of an Irish Catholic priest.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno earlier accused one commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of holding captive the 79-year-old Columban Father Michael Sinnott.

But MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said the accused commander was actually the one assigned by the rebel group to help in efforts to free Sinnott, who was abducted on October 11 in Pagadian City, 810 kilometres south of Manila.

Iqbal said the MILF leadership has directed commander Aloy Al Ashree not to take any military action against government forces looking for the ailing priest, but warned the rebels had been authorized to fight back if attacked.

"If they are going to attack us, we are prepared," Iqbal said.

Puno's accusation against the MILF has raised concerns that Sinnott's kidnapping could jeopardize efforts to resume formal peace talks with the rebels, which have stalled since August 2008.

Puno also turned down the MILF's offer to help free Sinnott.

Ambassador Rafael Seguis, head of the government's negotiating panel, urged authorities not to link the peace talks to Sinnott's kidnapping.

"The kidnapping is a criminal act not related to the peace process," he said. "When we meet the MILF panel, we will not talk about the kidnapping case."

Presidential peace adviser Annabelle Abaya also stressed the need to give the MILF the benefit of the doubt and to accept their offer to help in resolving the kidnapping.

"We have to look at their offer to help as a confidence-building measure," she told a forum with foreign correspondents in Manila.

Abaya said any finger-pointing should be done after Sinnott has been freed.

Last week, authorities released a video of Sinnott sent by his kidnappers who demanded 2 million dollars for his freedom.

The police have dispatched additional forces in the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Zamboanga del Sur to help in tracking down Sinnott's kidnappers in the hope of rescuing the priest. (IANS)