Colleagues of Irish priest abducted by militants in the southern Philippines has urged U.S. President Barrack Obama to help work out for the safe freedom of 79-year-old ailing minister.

Columban missionaries working in the U.S. said the help of the Obama administration might actually work to safely recover Fr. Michael Sinnott, co-workers of the Irish priest in the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines said Friday in a press statement.

A letter sent to U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton cited they fear for the safety of the 79-year old priest as Philippine government forces started its rescue operation, the CBCP said.

"We ask that all peaceful measures be taken to locate Fr. Sinnott and negotiate his release," the letter to Mrs Clinton read.

"We ask that you respond in all due haste, as Fr Sinnott has a heart condition and is, as far as we know, without his medication," it added.

Armed men at gunpoint forcibly took Sinnot, who was also teaching at the St. Columbian College, away around 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 from his house in the southern city of Pagadian in Zamboanga del Sur.