5,000 searching for 2 European bird watchers

Some 5,000 security forces and volunteers are combing the western part of Tawi-Tawi in search of two European bird watchers abducted by unidentified gunmen on February 1 as their governments become increasingly concerned of their safety, Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali said.

“We have more than 3,000 hectares of forest here and the mission of that team is to make sure every part is inspected,” Sahali told the Inquirer by phone on Thursday.

Dutch Ewold Horn and Swiss Lorenzo Vinciguerra, and Filipino Ivan Sarenas were going back to Bongao from 14 days of a bird watching trip in Panglima Sugala town when they were abducted in midsea. Their escorts, a policeman and a local official, were allowed to leave, along with the boat operator.

Sarenas escaped by jumping into the waters and swimming toward an island where he was found by fishermen.

“We are hoping there would be positive news in the coming days,” Sahali said.

Officials from the Dutch and Swiss embassies in Manila have been calling him daily for updates on search-and-rescue efforts, he said. “They are very much worried over the safety of the two victims,” he said.

Acting Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) also acknowledged that European diplomats were in close contact with him. He said he would always tell them that the efforts were continuing and that the victims had not been sighted so far.Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao