Police deploy agents to search for missing German couple

From the Philippine Star (May 8): Police deploy agents to search for missing German couple

Police intelligence units have been mobilized around Sulu province to verify reports that two German nationals kidnapped late April between high sees of Malaysia and Palawan are in the southern province.

A police official privy to the operation said thata technical working group (TWG) composed of local leaders and police intelligence operatives have been working on the ground, searching for the possible presence of Stefan Viktor Okonek, 71, and her female companion, Herike Diesen, 55.

“There is physical movement of the technical body and our police unit there to verify the possible presence of the victims (Germans),” said the police official, who asked not to be named.

The police source said the operations were launched after they received reports of the German couple's possible presence in the province.

He said they are also tracing the whereabouts of Chinese kidnap victim Gao Huayuan and Filipina Mercelita Dayawan and other local victims, who are believed to be held by the dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group.

Gao, and Dayawan were seized from the Singhmata Resort off Semporna, Malaysia and brought to Sulu by the Abu Sayyaf gunmen.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/05/08/1320743/police-deploy-agents-search-missing-german-couple