ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Local authorities yesterday admitted that they still had no idea where kidnappers have brought two US citizens and a relative they seized in an island village last Tuesday.
Authorities said they have been getting information from various groups believed behind the kidnapping of Gerfa Yeatts Lunsmann, 42, her son, Kevin Eric, 14, and nephew Romnick Jakaria, 19.
“Since the abduction, many reports have been coming in. All were validated and the reports tend to cancel each other out,” said Mayor Celso Lobregat, who heads the crisis management committee.
Lobregat suspected that these reports were diversionary tactics of the kidnappers to elude security forces pursuing them.
The Lunsmanns were vacationing with relatives on Tic-tabon Island off the coast of this city when they and Jakaria were snatched.
Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo, city police chief, said they have identified different groups operating in the area but it appeared that none of them were holding any hostages.
He said they have scoured coastal areas in this city and nearby islands and islets but found no signs of the victims.
Elite security forces pursuing the kidnappers clashed with Moro rebels in Tuburan, Basilan Thursday morning. No casualties were reported. – With Jaime Laude