Chief Supt. Federico Dulay, the current head of Task Force Oceanview, said evidence that might lead to identification of the kidnappers was being gathered and they were looking into all angles concerning the incident.
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Sawadjaan is identified by another source from the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group as a member of the emerging armed group within the Abu Sayyaf called “Anak Ilo”, or orphans of Abu Sayyaf fighters and combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front based in Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.
Two Canadians, a Norwegian, and one Filipina were kidnapped by gunmen from a resort in the southern Philippine islands, state media reported.
“We have dispatched navy units for maritime interdiction along possible routes and have intensified our intel monitoring to locate the group and the victims in coordination with the Eastern Mindanao Command”, said Guerrero.
In 2001, Islamist militants from Abu Sayyaf, a group linked to al Qaeda, failed to kidnap foreign tourists on Samal island’s Pearl Farm resort.
Two Canadian tourists, a Norwegian resort manager and a Filipino woman have been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from a popular resort island in the southern Philippines, the army said yesterday. He added they have yet to confirm with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is he is doing any business in the country.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (CanCham), of which Ridsdel is listed as a member of the board of trustees, recently held a forum on safety and security for foreign investors in Mindanao. (CanCham Philippines). Before that, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Executive officer of the TVI Resource Development from August 2008 to April 2011.
It also advised against travel to the Zamboanga Peninsula and the provinces of Sarangani, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur (excluding urban areas of Davao City), Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Cotabato, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat. The Filipino woman, identified only as Tess, is Hall’s partner.
The kidnappers also abducted Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, the 56-year-old operations manager of the marina, who reportedly came to investigate the commotion at the scene. However, the hunt has become hard as there has been no demands for ransom just yet.
Citing eyewitness accounts, Rivers said there was a sighting of two motorized bancas, the other boat was smaller, plying nearby. “The air force is also helping, ready for insertion”.
“If you are visiting or living in this region despite this advisory, review your security situation regularly and take appropriate precautions, particularly when visiting places frequented by foreigners”, the travel advisory said.
The military and the police have already dispatched sea patrol boats and helicopters to monitor the gulf.
But Abu Sayyaf confirmed in a radio interview that they received a 250 million pesos (5.4 million US dollars) ransom in exchange for the release of the two German hostages.
Rosario noted that police are denied entry to resort premises “because they say these are private establishments”.
However, security and local government officials doubted whether the New People’s Army rebels had the capability to carry out the attack.
Historically, the communist insurgent group does not leave behind handwritten notes but issues formal statements and sends these to media outlets to announce or deny it perpetrated an act. “We need cooperation”, he said.
They were abducted from the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos). Davao City has a very good security system.
The Oceanview resort has suspended operations.
But a few yachts were still docked at the resort.
Dulay said the suspect is between 25 to 30 years old, stands 5’2″-5’3″ and is approximately 55 kilos.
The kidnapping on Monday was the first abduction of Westerners in Mindanao in more than two years.
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“By the time the police arrived the bad guys were long gone”, he said.
