Police officials on Wednesday released the composite sketch of one of the suspects in the abduction of three foreigners and their Filipina companion from a resort on Samal Island in Davao del Norte, GMA News has reported.
Unidentified gunmen abducted Canadian tourists John Ridsdel, 68, and Robert Hall, 50, on Monday night.
The other hostages were Norwegian resort employee Kjartan Sekkingstad, 56, and Hall's 40-year-old Filipina girlfriend, identified only as Tess.
The suspects have reportedly slipped past a naval cordon and escaped to remote mountains in Mindanao without making ransom demands, police have said.
Police said the suspect was 25 to 30 years old with dark skin, of average body build and standing 5'2" to 5'3".
The composite sketch was based on the description of the suspect by two foreigners who escaped the abductors, the Special Investigation Task Group has said.
The foreigners escaped after jumping from the abductors' boats.
Authorities have yet to identify the group behind the incident but initial investigation showed the hostages were taken from the Oceanview Resort Monday night and used two boats to escape.
SITG head Chief Superintendent Frederico Dulay said they had high hopes that the suspects have yet to leave the Davao Gulf area.
The police said a Moro National Liberation Front camp was near the area but no suspicious movement had been observed so far.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has already asked the MNLF to avoid leaving their camp while pursuit operations were ongoing.
Authorities already set up strategic cordons in the Davao Gulf to prevent the suspects from entering the Zamboanga Peninsula en route to Basilan and Sulu—known hideouts of the Abu Sayyaf Group, which is notorious for kidnap for ransom activities.
Info on ASG kidnap plan received in June
Prof. Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, indicated that the recent abduction of three foreigners and their Filipino woman companion could have been prevented.
Banlaoi said information that the Abu Sayyaf Group had been planning to kidnap foreigners and tourists in some of the resorts on Samal Island had been going around the intelligence community as early as June.
According to Banlaoi, the group is led by an ASG sub-commander known as Sawadjaan.
"Anong nangyari sa pagma-manage natin ng intelligence information? Kung 'yung intelligence information ay nakarating sa akin, ina-anticipate ko na nakarating 'yun dapat sa otoridad at nagkaroon na ng tamang measures para ma-prevent 'yung mga plano nila," Banlaoi said.
Banlaoi added that a civilian group known for kidnapping for ransom was behind the abduction and passed the hostages to the ASG.
"'Pag nakuha na niya ang target, tina-transfer niya sa Abu Sayyaf Group para ang ASG na ang makipag-negotiate for a higher ransom payment," Banlaoi said.
Senior Superintendent Robert Fajardo of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group told GMA News that the group received the information on the ASG's plan to kidnap individuals on Samal Island and intensified security in the area.
Even the Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed receiving the same information.
"We have that information but hangga't hindi natin nako-confirm, it's just only raw information," said Col. Noel Detoyato, chief of the AFP Public Information Office.
Travel advisory
Meanwile, Canada has advised its nationals against traveling to several areas in Mindanao, including Davao provinces, following the kidnapping incident.
Canada said its nationals should avoid travel to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula and the provinces of Sarangani, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Cotabato, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
It was, however, specifically noted in the advisory that "urban areas of Davao City" are not included in the travel advisory dated September 22.
The Canadian government said travel in the concerned areas should be avoided "due to the serious threat of terrorist attacks and kidnapping."
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/538071/news/regions/artist-s-sketch-of-one-samal-island-kidnapper-bared
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