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Tellus · 06-05-2014, 03:59

Just found on website of German magazine Spiegel online.de

"Were kidnapped in the Philippines two German sailors ?
The yacht of the couple was found abandoned ten days ago . The federal government has now set up a crisis management team .

The German government has convened a crisis management team because of the possible kidnapping of a German sailor pair in the Philippines. " The Foreign Office is in close contact with the Embassy in Manila and the Philippine authorities ," said a ministry spokeswoman . Officially, there was no confirmation of a suspected abduction by Muslim rebels. Crisis teams are usually only established when there is a concrete suspicion .

The couple - two tourists at the age of 55 and 71 years - was traveling in the west of the island nation . Their yacht was found on April 26 left . "We consider them to be missing ," said the Philippine military spokesman Roy Deveraturda . The kidnapping is a mere hypothesis , there had been no ransom demand . " Everything is still unclear. They were on their way back to Sabah in Malaysia ," said the military spokesman ."

pbmaise · 06-05-2014, 06:05

Germans Stefan Viktor Okonek and Herike Diesen.

In the past, Abu Sayyaf has kidnapped tourists from the Philippines' island of Palawan - the last place Okonek and Diesen were seen.

Note: News accounts and conjecture of foul play are based on event in 2001. If there was active problem I would hope I heard of it. I am right here on Palawan now.

The couple sailed from Palawan April 14 with a small group of motor yachts bound for Sabah, Malaysia, but whereas the rest arrived safely, their boat - the M/V Catherine - never arrived.

mbianka · 06-05-2014, 06:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbmaise

Germans Stefan Viktor Okonek and Herike Diesen.

In the past, Abu Sayyaf has kidnapped tourists from the Philippines' island of Palawan - the last place Okonek and Diesen were seen.

Note: News accounts and conjecture of foul play are based on event in 2001. If there was active problem I would hope I heard of it. I am right here on Palawan now.

The couple sailed from Palawan April 14 with a small group of motor yachts bound for Sabah, Malaysia, but whereas the rest arrived safely, their boat - the M/V Catherine - never arrived.

Any word on the condition of the abandoned boat? Signs of struggle etc...

Tellus · 06-05-2014, 07:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbmaise

Germans Stefan Viktor Okonek and Herike Diesen.

Note: News accounts and conjecture of foul play are based on event in 2001. If there was active problem I would hope I heard of it. I am right here on Palawan now.

look: Deutsche Segler: Krisenstab wegen möglicher Entführung auf Philippinen - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Pelagic · 06-05-2014, 07:03

Not much yet here on local media
http://www.rappler.com/nation/56490-...-yacht-palawan

category4jay · 06-05-2014, 07:21

M/V Catherine?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/41070995@N06/3901608911/

Seems to me that they would have been in radio contact with the other members of the "small group" they sailed with? Unless they were taken off guard and off ship by surprise.

pbmaise · 06-05-2014, 13:01

Destination "Sabah" Malaysia may have been Sandakan. A trip there from Palawan is close to Jolo Island group and strong fractional groups. I will visit local police and ask at yacht club. Later today and look for more info.

Pelagic · 06-05-2014, 15:29

Probably Kudat which is a good entry point from Palawan

Parmenter · 06-05-2014, 15:41

Confirmation here that they were captured by Abus

Quote:

Abus abduct 2 Germans near Sabah

oh wait

Quote:

The military’s Western Command (Wescom) yesterday confirmed that two Germans, aboard a yacht, went missing while on their way back to Sabah from Palawan, and it is not discounting the possibility that they were snatched by the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group.
Abus abduct 2 Germans near Sabah

Heres another with a chinaman thrown in for good measure.

Quote:

Abu Sayyaf seizes Chinese, Germans hostages
MANILA, Philippines—A Chinese national and two Germans may be the latest hostages of the Abu Sayyaf, according to reports.http://globalnation.inquirer.net/103...rmans-hostages

I hate the medias continual lies and deception.

Pelagic · 07-05-2014, 06:57

http://m.thelocal.de//20140506/germa...ng-philippines

harold_88 · 07-05-2014, 08:03

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

pbmaise · 07-05-2014, 13:36

As expected, my visit to local police office in Puerto Princesa Palawan, the most likely departure point, was fruitless. They really had no idea what I was talking about.

I read a conflicting report on the web they left here April 25, 2014 and were headed "island hopping" on way back. There are many unpopulated islands to visit.

The most logical conclusion is while ashore their boat broke anchor. Right now they may well very be waving at passing boats.

Still unkown:

1. Date left
2. Destination Sandakan, Kudat, or Kota Kinabalu.
Note: All reports say returning... That makes KK most logical.
3. Was their yacht found floating April 23 when another souce says they left April 23???
4. Location condition yacht.
5. Status amchor and dinghy. Maybe they are adrift with a stalled dinghy motor.
6. Report said they sailed with group of boats. Who? Why no contact between vessels? This sounds like reporter invention.
7. Why term "tourists"? That implies not their boat.

P.S. Appears local Coast Guard got 5 or 6 brand new speed boats. Two days ago I watched them making high speed donuts and having what looked like a very nice time in Palawan.

My attempts to tell them of fleet of Chinese fishing boats in Sulu Sea were ignored. Repeated calls on 16 ignored and directly waving and shouting at them yielded only the reply I had a nice yacht and they didn't want to get too close and mar my Own int.

I leave from here in two hours in same direction but intend to round Southern tip of Palawan then head up Western side.

**Hud3** · 07-05-2014, 14:02

Hope you have a safe passage. What's your destination? Please check in when you get there and let us know you have arrived.

pbmaise · 07-05-2014, 14:10

In another paper I read what appears to me as a smear.campaign against Palawan.

That paper again rehashed a 2001 incident in Palawan and failed to mention critical facts that showed that was not a random act.

It also reported about two birdwatcher that were picked up while watching birds in a disputed and essentially military zone The paper simply said

"Tawi Tawi island near Palawan"

Well look on the map. It is 250 nm away and East of Sandakan.