No ransom demand for kidnapped Europeans

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  – Gunmen holding captive two European nationals have not demanded any ransom as search and rescue operations by government forces continue in Tawi-Tawi, a police official said yesterday.

Dutchman Elwold Horn, 52, and Swiss Lorenzo Vinciguerre, 47, were seized 48 hours ago, but the police and military authorities believe the victims and their captors are still in Tawi-Tawi.

“There have been no ransom, no communication yet on what they needed,” said Tawi-Tawi provincial police director Senior Superintendent Rodelio Jocson.

Jocson said Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali is very eager to resolve the abduction incident the soonest possible time even as the provincial executive has mobilized the local government units to help monitor the possible presence of the abductors and the victims.

Jocson said they are continuously looking for leads to determine who is behind the abduction.

Horn and Vinciguerre and their Filipino guide Ivan Sarenas were snatched by unidentified gunmen last Wednesday while bird watching in Barangay Parangan, Panglima Sugala town.

Sarenas managed to escape by jumping out of the speeding pump boat of the suspects and swam to safety. The military suspected that rogue members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are behind the abduction of the two European tourists.

“We are still identifying those responsible. There was information rogue elements of the MNLF were involved. But we are verifying the reports,” said Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa. Dellosa said government troops and the police have intensified the pursuit operation to locate the victims and their abductors in an area of Tawi-Tawi.

He said military and police forces were trying to isolate the area where the captors are believed to have brought their hostages.

“We are looking at the possibility if they (abductors and captives) were able to slip out from the area,” Dellosa said.

Dellosa also cited the possibility that the kidnappers might escape to nearby Sulu province where military forces launched intensified operations following the air strike that killed several top Islamic militants early Thursday.

Col. Orlando de Leon, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade, said they are yet to receive information on the whereabouts of the victims in the Sulu area. 

“However, our forces were also tightly monitoring,” he said. Meanwhile, Malolos, Bulacan Bishop Jose Oliveros said the government should be more aggressive in maintaining peace and order in the country to sustain its tourism slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.” 

He said the slogan does not jibe with the continued reports of kidnapping in the country.

“There are a lot of tourists who find our country beautiful, as the slogan goes ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ but we do not have peace. We lack action,” he said.

In fact, he added, the tourism slogan has even given birth to ironic and amusing concepts of “fun” in the country. Oliveros said he is also hoping that the kidnappers would repent, have a change of heart and release their captives. 

He also asked the people to offer prayers for the kidnap victims, that they would return to their loved ones safely.

The government should also give more support to the soldiers and policemen who provide security to the Filipino people, he said. With Evelyn Macairan