Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Boats in Samal Island raid recovered in Davao Oriental - AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 23): Boats in Samal Island raid recovered in Davao Oriental - AFP

Government security forces have recovered the two motorized bancas used by the suspects in the Samal Island raid which resulted in the abduction of three foreigners and one Filipina Monday night.

The boats were recovered at the shoreline of Tibanban, Gov. Generoso town, Davao Oriental, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said in a press brief Wednesday.

The motorized bancas were spotted early Tuesday morning and there are no evidence to suggest they are from the area, he added.

"There is no definite group yet (behind the abduction) as there is still an ongoing law enforcement operation," Detoyato stated.

He refused to comment on whether the boats were recovered near a Moro Islamic Liberation Front camp as earlier claimed.

"We cannot assume that, (all we know for now) is that the boats were recovered from the Tibanban shoreline which is part of the Eastern Seaboard going towards Sarangani and Davao Oriental. The area is where our naval, air assets and ground forces are concentrated," Detoyato said.

He also said that Davao Oriental seems the general location where the suspects are heading as based on the recovery of the two motorized boats.

Around 11 suspects, armed with long and short firearms, abducted three foreigners and a Filipina during a raid at Oceanview Resort, Barangay Camudmud, Babak District, Island Garden City of Samal Monday night.

Pursuit operations are still being conducted by naval and group units of the Eastern Mindanao Command.

The incident took place at 11: 30 p.m., Capt. Alberto Caber, Eastern Mindanao Command public affairs office chief, said.

He identified the victims as Canadians John Ridsel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, the resort manager, and a still unidentified Filipina.

Reports said the suspects were speaking in English and Filipino when they snatched the victims.

Two Japanese tourists tried to stop the bandits but failed.

At the time of the raid, 30 or more foreigners were at the resort.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=807336

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