No ransom demand yet for Europeans

Friday, February 3, 2012

ZAMBOANGA -- Police said local thugs are likely to have abducted two European tourists in Tawi-Tawi province, not al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Police Director Felicisimo Khu said Friday the kidnappers have made no contact or ransom demand.

ZAMBOANGA. This photo of Ewold Horn, 52, from Holland, was released Friday by the Tawi-Tawi police command. (Contributed photo)

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Still being held hostage are Ewold Horn, 52, from Holland and Lorenzo Vinciguerre, 47, from Switzerland, who were seized by five gunmen along with a Filipino guide around 1:50 p.m. Wednesday off shore Parangan, Panglima Sugala municipality, Tawi-Tawi.

The Filipino guide, Ivan Sarenas, 35, of Davao City, has escaped hours after the gunmen seized them, by jumping off their captors’ boat.

They were taking photographs of rare bird species when seized by five gunmen aboard a motorized banca.

The Tawi-Tawi police command, meanwhile, requested the Sulu police to block all possible entry as they continue to search the whereabouts of the two abducted Europeans.

Tawi-Tawi Police Director Rodelio Jocson said the blockade is to prevent the gunmen holding hostage the two European tourists from fleeing the province and transferring the hostages to the province of Sulu.

ZAMBOANGA. Tawi-Tawi police photo handout shows Dutch Ewold Horn, 52 (left) and Swiss Lorenzo Vinciguerre, 47 (right) having a conversation at their billeting place in Bongao town. (Contributed photo)

Jocson said a Crisis Management Committee has also been activated as the search for the two Europeans continues.

Jocson, however, did not elaborate on the search but said it is focused “on a certain area.” (Bong Garcia/AP/Sunnex)