ABDUCTED SWISS AND DUTCH NATIONAL IN TAWI-TAWI LAST 01 FEBRUARY 2012

INCIDENT REPORT: Abducted Swiss and Dutch National in Tawi-Tawi last 01 February 2012.

A Swiss and Dutch National were kidnapped along with their Filipino guide on 01 February 2012 off Barangay (village) Parangan, Panglima Sugala in Tawi-Tawi. The victims were identified as Ewold Horn, Lorenzo Vinciguerra, and Ivan Sarenas. The victims just finished a 14-day bird-watching trip at the time of their abduction. Five armed men intercepted the boat they were riding in on their way back to Bongao. There were three other men travelling with the victims- a policeman, a local town councilor, and the boat skipper- but they were ordered by the kidnappers to jump off the boat. The victims were transferred to another boat which was assumed to be headed towards the direction of Jolo, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). The tour guide, Sarenas, managed to escape from their captors by jumping off the boat- he was rescued by some fisherman and brought inland to Languyan town where they reported the kidnapping to the police.

This photo of Ewold Horn, 52, from Holland, was released by the Tawi-Tawi police command.

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

THE PERPETRATORS

The five gunmen were reported to be armed with rifles, pistols and a grenade launcher at the time of the abduction. The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) has not been tagged as the ones behind the kidnapping. The ASG is not widely active in Tawi-Tawi- most of its operations are concentrated in Sulu and Basilan.

The kidnappers have not yet contacted the authorities and have yet to make a ransom demand.

SECURITY RESPONSE

A massive search and rescue operation was mobilized by the military in Tawi-Tawi and the nearby islands. Naval troops and Marines were deployed for the rescue of the hostages. The search and rescue operations are concentrated along the swamp areas, mangroves, and vast seas surrounding Tawi-Tawi which consists of more than 300 small islands that border Malaysia.

Security officials are confident that the kidnappers have not managed to slip past the naval blockade around Tawi-Tawi. Police denied reports that the victims have been brought to Sulu province - a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). The Provincial Police Director of Tawi-Tawi, Senior Superintendent Rodelio Jocson, was quoted in a news report saying that a local gang is holding Horn and Vinciguerre- “they were abducted by locals and not the Abu Sayyaf.”

ANALYSIS

There is a perception that the kidnapping could have been prevented had the tour guide and the foreign victims coordinated with security officials with regards to their trip. Since last year, the embassies of the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia have issued travel warnings for their citizens not to travel to Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and the Zamboanga Peninsula, as there have been incidents of the kidnapping of foreign nationals in these areas.

It was first assumed that the kidnappers were headed towards Jolo but the boat used by the kidnappers was recovered by authorities in the town of Languyan, Tawi-Tawi. It was noted that the boat used by the kidnappers was small and did not have any extra fuel to make the 12 hour trip to Jolo. Police also recovered the boat from which the victims were seized and they recovered Vinciguerra’s bag which had more than USD1,000 worth of foreign currencies and Sarenas’ bag which contained expensive cameras.

Authorities took note of the fact that three other potential hostages- a policeman, a town councilor and the boat skipper, were freed by the kidnappers. They also did not shoot Sarenas when he jumped out of the boat, dived into the water and escaped. If the ASG were the ones involved in the kidnapping, it is uncharacteristic of them to let these things pass as they are notorious for their brutality and heavy-handedness with their victims.

It is understandable that the authorities could not entirely rule out the involvement of the ASG. Kidnapping is a known tactic of the ASG and foreign nationals are often sought out as they command a higher ransom. To date, the ASG has one Malaysian, one Indian, one Japanese national, and an Australian national in their custody.

It must be stressed though that the ASG is not the only armed group in the area. Local organized crime groups/armed groups that operate in the area could be the ones involved in the kidnapping. There is the possibility that the hostages could be “turned over” to the ASG for a fee.

The events related to this kidnapping have yet to fully unfold and the analysis of this incident is a work in progress.

PREVENTING KIDNAPPING

KNOW THE RULES...

ABDUCTION and KIDNAPPING

Prevention Tips for Parents and Guardian

1. Teach your children to run away from danger, never toward it. Danger is anyone or anything invading their personal space. If anyone should try to grab them, tell them to make a scene; loudly yell this person is not my father/mother/guardian; and make every effort to get away by kicking, screaming, and resisting. Their safety is more important than being polite. Teach your children if they are ever followed in a vehicle to turn around and run in the other direction to you or another trusted adult.
2. Never let your children go places alone, and always supervise your young children or make sure there is another trusted adult present to supervise them if you cannot. Make sure your older children always take a friend when they go anywhere.
3. Know where your children are and whom they are with at all times. Remind children to never take anything or respond in any way if approached by anyone they don’t know, and also remind them to never approach a vehicle without your permission. Teach them to run away as quickly as possible to you or another trusted adult.
4. Talk openly to your children about safety and encourage them to tell you or a trusted adult if anyone or anything makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused. Discuss safety issues with your children so they will understand the need for precautions. Advise your older children about steps they may take to help safeguard themselves. Know your children’s friends and their families. Pay attention to your children and listen to them. If you don’t, someone else may. And others may have ulterior motives for befriending your children.
5. Practice what you teach by creating “what if” scenarios with your children to make sure they understand the safety message and are able to use it in a real situation.
6. Consider installing an alarm system in your home with a monitoring feature. If you do not have an alarm system, consider purchasing less expensive wireless door and window alarms. Make sure your home is secured with deadbolt locks, and ensure landscaping around it doesn’t provide places for people to hide. Check other access points such as gates, and make sure they have been secured. Consider installing exterior lighting around your home. Make sure your home is fully secured before you go to sleep and items such as ladders have been stored inside. Prepare a plan to vacate your home in case of any emergency. This should include but is not limited to a fire. Have a plan if an intruder tries or gets into your home.
7. Make your children part of securing your home. If you have installed an alarm system, demonstrate it to your children and show them how to make sure doors and windows are locked. This will not only help calm their fears but will also help make them part of your “safety plan” at home.
8. Have a list of family members who could be contacted in case of an emergency. Designate a family member or close associate who would be able to fill the role of advisor in case of an emergency.
9. Be alert to and aware of your surroundings. Know the “escape routes” and plan what you would do in different emergencies. Practice “what if” scenarios, so you will be well prepared. Know the location of local hospitals and best routes to take to reach them. Know how to reach the nearest local law enforcement agency or sub-station.
10. Know your employees and coworkers. Do background screening and reference checks on everyone who works at your home, particularly those individuals who care for your children. Their knowledge of your family is extensive so make sure you have an equivalent understanding of them.
11. Consider varying your daily routines and habits. Do not take the same routes or go at the same time on your regular errands. If you take your children to school, change that route as well.
12. Take steps to secure personal information about yourself. Consider getting a post office box and registering everything you may there including your vehicles and drivers’ licenses. Have personal bills sent to your place of work or the post office box. Be discreet about your possessions and family’s personal habits and information. Take steps to protect your identity by not revealing too much information and notifying authorities of any irregularities.
13. Report any suspicious persons or activities to law enforcement. If you feel anyone in your family has been targeted or is being stalked, immediately report this information to law-enforcement authorities. Do not wait.
14. Remember you are your best resource for better safeguarding your family. Stay alert, informed, and vigilant about personal-security issues.