No sighting of kidnapped Sabah tourist, worker

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The reported whereabouts in Sulu of a Chinese tourist and a Filipino worker snatched by suspected Abu Sayyaf militants from a beach resort in Sabah, Malaysia have remained unverified, a military official said yesterday.         

Marines and police forces pursuing Marcelita Dayawan, 40, and Gao Hua Yuan, 29, reported no sightings of the captives.  Capt. Ryan Lacuesta, spokesman for the 2nd Marine Brigade, said they received information the victims were brought to Sulu and Basilan. 

“This information remained unverified as pursuit operation continues to locate the kidnappers and the captives,” Lacuesta said.  He said they are also verifying information coming from civilian sources.

Gao, of Shanghai, China, and Dayawan, a resort staff, were snatched on April 2 from Singahmata Reef Resort off Semporna in Sabah. They were believed taken on a speedboat that reportedly fled toward Mindanao.

Earlier, reports said the victims and their captors arrived in Parang town in Sulu and kept mobile to evade pursuing government forces. 

In a statement, Malaysian authorities hinted the possible release of the two captives as steps have reportedly been taken for their freedom.

A Malaysian newspaper quoted Inspector General Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar as saying they were expecting a “closure” of the kidnapping case of the two victims.