MANILA, Philippines ? Gunmen in the restive southern Philippines abducted one Swiss and one Dutch tourist along with their Filipino guide Wednesday and took them away by boat, authorities said.
They were the latest kidnap victims in an impoverished region infested with al-Qaida-linked militants and criminal gangs that often seek ransom for their foreign hostages.
The tourists, identified as Dutch Ewold Horn and Swiss Lorenzo Vinziguerre, were snatched with their guide by an armed group in the country's southernmost Tawi-Tawi island province and dragged to a waiting boat, said military spokesman Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang.
The Dutch Embassy in Manila confirmed the kidnapping and said it was working on the case. Switzerland's Foreign Ministry said the Swiss Embassy in Manila was in contact with Philippine authorities about the incident.
Cabangbang said that the kidnapping took place in the village of Parangan in the township of Panglima Sugala, in the remote islands that make up the province.
The southern Philippines is considered unsafe for foreign visitors and governments have put up advisories against travel in the region. Tawi-Tawi is home to small islands known as Turtle Islands, which are close to Malaysian waters.
Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali told The Associated Press by telephone that the tourists and their guide were accompanied by a town council member and an unarmed police officer because the foreigners refused to be escorted by armed men.
Sahali said the group was overpowered by five gunmen.
"It has been our practice that we secure Caucasian visitors," he said. "Next time, if there will be a next time, I will not allow them (foreigners) to go around without armed escorts."
The gunmen ordered the councilman and the officer to jump out of the boat before escaping, Sahali said.
He said the tourists had arrived about 10 days earlier and stayed most of the time in the mountains to photograph rare birds. They were scheduled to leave Thursday.
Authorities have no suspects and no ransom demand has been made, Sahali said.
He said about two dozen policemen were heading to another village, where the foreigners were reported to have been sighted. The military and police also were reported to have cordoned off the area, while Philippine marines were being mobilized to help in the rescue.
Muslim rebels have been fighting for minority self-rule in the predominantly Christian nation's south for decades. The most violent group, al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf, has been notorious for terrorist attacks and kidnappings for ransom.
Cabangbang said Abu Sayyaf has been active in Tawi-Tawi, coming from their strongholds in nearby Basilan and Jolo islands.
The militants are believed to be holding a former Australian soldier who was kidnapped before Christmas. In January, a video surfaced of him pleading for his life and urging the Philippines and Australia to raise a $2 million ransom being demanded by his captors.
___
Associated Press writer Oliver Teves contributed to this report.
stephen colbert south carolina laura dekker keystone pipeline drew peterson untouchable seal and heidi klum herman cain south carolina bath salts
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.