MANILA, Philippines - Malaysian police have identified the Filipina abducted in Sabah on Wednesday along with a Chinese tourist even as Philippine and Malaysian authorities are coordinating efforts to locate them.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur was able to confirm from local police authorities the identity of the Filipino kidnap victim as Marcelita Dayawan, 40, a staff member of Singamata Resort in Semporna.
Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya dispatched an embassy official to Sabah, who conferred with local police yesterday.
Embassy officials are in touch with Dayawan’s relatives and are extending consular assistance.
“We continue to hope and pray for the immediate resolution of this incident and the safe return of the victims to their families,†the embassy said in a statement.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Carmelita Dimzon said they were trying to locate Dayawan’s family to provide them counseling.
“As soon as we find them, we will provide stress debriefing to her family,†Dimzon said.
Six gunmen snatched Dayawan along with Gao Huayuan, 29, a tourist from Shanghai, on Wednesday in Sabah, which is known for its natural attractions such as world-class dive sites.
The area is also notorious for lawlessness and recurring kidnappings blamed on bandits from southern Philippines.
DFA spokesman Charles Jose said the embassy’s police attaché immediately alerted Philippine police authorities in nearby areas.
Jose said Philippine authorities are coordinating with their Malaysian counterparts in exchanging information to locate the hostages.
The Sabah police believed the kidnapping in Semporma had inside help, according to Malaysia’s The Star online.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the gunmen appeared to have been familiar with the resort and its security operations.
Resort director Tong Goh Kung said the gunmen apparently chose a time when police personnel would usually go out in their boats to patrol the area.
Hamza said police are tracking down the seven gunmen. “It looks like kidnap-for-ransom groups are behind this. One group abducts the victims and then sells them to other groups,†he said.
Hamza said police were recording the statements of the 49 resort workers and 61 tourists – 59 Chinese, one Iranian and one Malaysian.
The Sabah police believed the gunmen who also abducted Dayawan might have randomly picked Gao.
On landing at the resort’s rear entrance, the gunmen entered Dayawan’s room and grabbed her before fleeing.
“As they were running towards their boat, they grabbed Gao,’’ Hamza said.
Filipino troops have been deployed to a remote southern island where suspected Abu Sayyaf militants are believed to have taken the two hostages seized from Sabah.– With Jaime Laude, Mayen Jaymalin, Perseus Echeminada, Roel Pareño