Missing German tourists in Palawan in Abu Sayyaf custody

From the Manila Times (Aug 11): Missing German tourists in Palawan in Abu Sayyaf custody

The two German tourists who went missing in the seas between Palawan and Sabah, Malaysia, last April are now captives of the Abu Sayyaf, a source from the intelligence community disclosed on Monday.

Stefan Victor Okonek, 71, and Herike Diesen, 55, were seized by the heavily armed bandits in the waters of Bataraza town, Palawan, on April 26.

The two had just come from an island-hopping trip in Mindanao and were on their way to Sabah from Palawan, the Manila-based intelligence officer said.

A photograph shared by the officer showed the Germans surrounded by a group of men with automatic weapons.

The officer said he did not know if there were negotiations for the release of the Germans. “I’m not privy if there were negotiations taking place… but what I know is that the Germans don’t trust us,” he said.

The source said the Abu Sayyaf were informed by their relatives in Palawan that the foreigners were on a yacht near one of the islands.

Military spokesman, Lt. Colonel Ramon Zagala, said earlier the Germans were taken by the group of Murphy Ambang Ladia alias Haji Gulam, a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

http://www.manilatimes.net/breaking_news/missing-german-tourists-palawan-abu-sayyaf-custody/