Were two German sailors Kidnapped in the Phillipines?

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by harold_88

Unless the Philippine govt or the Malaysia one can give boaters a reason to come, I believe we should all stay away. It's the Abu sayaf again at their play. They operate in contested waters or waters that has no line of demarcation. None the less we have to assume ransom demands would be given by now

I agree Harold... Stay Away!

[Parmenter]

Originally Posted by harold_88

Unless the Philippine govt or the Malaysia one can give boaters a reason to come, I believe we should all stay away.

I have never needed a Govt. to give me a reason to travel to a country.
I have this thing called the internet that allows me to do my own research and a brain that allows me to make my own decisions as to my travelling destinations.

Your comment to me seems as ridiculous as saying dont travel to Thailand or Malaysia because of the troubles that happen in the Thai southern provence's around Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani.

[Jubilee39]

The Catherine was towed in to Puerto Princessa yesterday. There where beach towels over the mixxen boom. I understand that it was found anchored swim ladder down. Money and laptops where out in the cabin. I did not see anything indicating foul play. Conjecture here concerns crocodiles but again no proof. The boat is an Amel ketch not a m/v.
Joe
Jubilee
Puerto Princessa, Palawan

[Parmenter]

Originally Posted by Jubilee39

Conjecture here concerns crocodiles but again no proof.

Interesting.
The reports mention Bataraza Harbour but it doesnt look like the most idyllic of swimming or dive spots looking at google maps.
http://goo.gl/maps/7yXIh
Looks untenable and muddy, at least on the day the images were taken.

[pbmaise]

I wonder if any will apologize for damage they did to Philippines. Sounding more and more like dinghy engine failure. Where is dinghy?

Joe could you run up take a look? I set out already.

Philip

[seandepagnier]

here in labuan some people are afraid to sail to the philippines because of problems on the islands north of borneo. I stay 50 miles out. I am more worried about the random moored objects far offshore. I hit a big steel cylindrical container on the way here, luckily at only 2 knots because of light wind, should have stopped and cut it loose...

[LeaseOnLife]

Originally Posted by boat_alexandra

here in labuan some people are afraid to sail to the philippines because of problems on the islands north of borneo. I stay 50 miles out. I am more worried about the random moored objects far offshore. I hit a big steel cylindrical container on the way here, luckily at only 2 knots because of light wind, should have stopped and cut it loose...

yup,we got close to a couple of these.

[pbmaise]

Now 60 nm North of where SV Catherine was found at anchor in fine shape. Logic and belief man is good by nature tell me this is case of sailors lost due to failure of dinghy motor.

Yet tonight I had time to figure out why town and area are not on my map. They were renamed.

The renaming is a clue. A factor to weigh. I as a ship captain have a duty to render aid. I know instead of looking the local coast guard was busy doing high speed donuts. I know currents and winds would have taken a dinghy adrift about 30-50 nm South by now.

When I was 16 it was my duty to walk past IRA bombings to school and demonstrate no fear. I was not to be cowered.
Yet now as four crew members sleep I must remind myself of duties to them. I must accept the fact there are evil people who steal and use terror. Frequenty in the name of God, an impossibilty, since they are just men.

So I apologize to the good people of this now renamed town in the name of man. I can't visit and help look.
It pains me.

[gabilo]

Dinghy is still stowed on the aft deck, and knowing Catherine's owners, I can assure you they would never leave the boat without closing all hatches and locking it up.

The crocodile theory seems more unlikely than being kidnapped.

[pbmaise]

Gabilo thank you. I found mention of two crocs in area sent to Cebu croc farm. Strong squall line here. Won't check back here for several days. Our prayers they are somehow okay.

[Pelagic]

From local newspaper

http://m.philstar.com/314190/show/9a...636a630f1b11/?

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by pbmaise

Has anyone noticed the tone and curious fact that Harrold-88 just recently joined and is discouraging anyone from all of Philippines and Malaysia.

Yeah, stay away from the USA too!
FBI — Kidnappings & Missing Persons

[Parmenter]

Updates

Abus holding Sino trader, Malaysian partner in Sulu

By Roel Pareño (The Philippine Star) | Updated May 10, 2014 - 12:00am
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A Chinese businessman and his Malaysian associate who were seized four days ago in Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia are being held by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu, according to a peace advocate.

“It’s confirmed that Yang Zai Lin and Konur Resowan were brought to Kabbun Takas,” said Octavio Dinampo, a professor of the Mindanao State University (MSU) Sulu, citing a tip from an “informant.”

Dinampo said the kidnappers, together with their two captives, arrived in Kabbun Takas, Patikul town Wednesday night.

The group of Abu Sayyaf senior leader Radulan Sahiron is believed to be holding camp in Kabbun Takas.

Yang, 34, manager of the Wonderful Terrace Sdn Fish Farm owned by a Hong Kong-based national, and Resowan were reportedly snatched by five armed men aboard a speedboat at their fish farm in Pulau Baik off Silam, Lahad Datu on Tuesday morning.

Malaysian authorities who gave chase said the kidnappers later transferred to a pumpboat with a more powerful engine and engaged their pursuers in a brief shootout before making good their escape toward the direction of Sulu.

The kidnapping was the second in Malaysia in a span of 35 days by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits. Earlier, another Chinese, Gau Huayuan, 29, and Filipina resort worker Marcelita Dayawan, 40, were seized in a resort off Semporna. The two are believed also being held in Sulu.

Authorities have also confirmed that the Abu Sayyaf is also holding captive two German nationals – Stefan Viktor Okonek, 71, and her female companion, Herike Diesen, 55 – who were snatched from their yacht off Palawan last month.
Abus holding Sino trader, Malaysian partner in Sulu | Nation, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com

2 Germans held by Sayyaf

By Roel Pareño (The Philippine Star) | Updated May 9, 2014 - 12:00am
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Two German nationals who went missing off Palawan were confirmed to be held captive by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu province, according to a state college professor. Professor Octavio Dinampo of the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Sulu said his informants confirmed the report that the German nationals were being held by the bandits.

He said Stefan Viktor Okonek, 71, and his female companion, Herike Diesen, 55, were forcibly taken from their yacht at Rio Tubbataha, an hour’s ride from Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

“They were taken from the yacht and then transferred to a Volvo speedboat by Jihad Susukan,” Dinampo said.

He said Susukan alias Iddang is the younger brother of the slain Abu Sayyaf leader Mujib Susukan.

According to Dinampo, the group of Susukan with their captive Germans arrived April 14 at Sitio Sangay, Barangay Buhanginan but later moved out to evade the Marine company detachment near the area.

He said the bandits and their hostages went to Barangay Kabuntakas, an area where the group of senior Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron is encamped in the jungles near Patikul town.

“That’s where the victims were united with the two other European captives. That’s why they were called ‘jungle mates’ according to my informants,” Dinampo said.

A Dutchman, Elwold Horn, and Swiss Lorenzo Vinceguerre were kidnapped last February 2012 in Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi but were later brought to and held captive by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.

Dinampo said it would be difficult to seek the immediate release of the two Europeans since the Abu Sayyaf were demanding P50-million ransom for each captive.

Dinampo also confirmed the Abu Sayyaf have taken hostage Gao Hua Yuan, a tourist from Shanghai, China, and Filipina Marcelita Dayawan. The two were seized by gunmen from Semporna island resort in Sabah and taken to Sulu on April 2.

He said the gunmen brought Gao and Dayawan to Bud Taran in Talipao town and turned them over to the group of Abu Sayyaf leader Amad Aji.

Dinampo said Aji is one of the original Abu Sayyaf militants who raided Sipadan Island in Sabah in 2000 and took 21 hostages – two Filipino resort workers, nine Malaysians and 10 Europeans.

When asked why the Abu Sayyaf returned to kidnapping, Dinampo said: “They need money. And secondly, they craved the thrill of getting a big ransom.”

He said the Abu Sayyaf gained notoriety in the Sipadan kidnapping where they got a hefty ransom in US dollars.

According to Dinampo, the Abu Sayyaf are targeting Malay and Chinese tourists from Semporna because it is near Sulu.

Dinampo said he relayed the information to the police and military because he wanted to prevent such incidents from occurring so as not to give Sulu a bad image again.

“The police took my advice but the military seems to have ignored it, for what reason I don’t know,” he said.

The Sulu provincial police, however, said they are verifying Dinampo’s information.

2 Germans held by Sayyaf | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com

Kudat safe to visit – Minister
Posted on May 12, 2014, Monday

KUDAT: Local and international tourists can rest assured that Kudat is safe to visit as its waters is secure.
Kudat safe to visit – Minister – BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News | Largest English Daily In Borneo

[nomadic mama]

We're headed to Palawan, and next month we expect to transit near (or through) the area where SV Catherine and her crew went missing.

We don't take the possibility of piracy lightly and scrapped earlier plans to go around the NE side of Borneo after two events in the last six months where ASG kidnapped people for ransom.

I would very much like to know the real facts to make our own risk assessment, and it's frustrating that the facts surrounding what really happened with SV Catherine are so muddy. It's a MV! No, it's an SV. They were in the ASG stronghold on April 14! No, they left Palawan with a group of boats on April 14 (two hundred plus miles away). etc., etc., etc...

I'm grateful to the pbmaise and ubilee39, who are in Palawan sharing the information that they've learned: please add to the thread as details evolve!

If THIS fact only is accurate- that the boat was found with cash, laptops, passports, etc on board- it seems unlikely that foul play by humans was involved in their disappearance. If they were taken for ransom (or "made to disappear" for another reason)- why not grab the cash? It doesn't add up.

I'm as skeptical of the media as Parmenter (well, almost) but I think this is more a case of lazy so-called journalism than deliberate lies and deception. The only apparent source to indicate the German couple are with ASG is the MSU Professor Dinampo, who was previously an ASG hostage and has seems to have some informants there. But: maybe the direct demands for ransom are kept out of the media for some reason? I don't know.

Not interested in being test subjects for a piracy zone, but ready to head to Palawan next month.

Behan

[dannc]

I saw this report a few weeks ago on noonsite.

Noonsite reported they were kidnapped by Abu Sayyef.

Philippines, Palawan, Rio Tubbataha: German couple abducted from yacht — Noonsite

Later,
Dan