Gunmen kidnap 3 foreigners, Filipino from Davao resort

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -  Government troops have been alerted to be on the look out for fleeing gunmen who abducted three foreigners and a Filipina in a resort in Samal Island off Davao del Norte.

The kidnap victims are identified as Kjartan Sekkinstad, a Norwegian resort manager, his girlfriend named Tess and two Canadians identified as John Ridsdel and Robert Hall.

Police said the victims were forcibly seized by 20 unidentified gunmen who barged into Oceanview Resort at Barangay Camudmud, Babak, Samal Island, Davao del Norte about 9:30 p.m. 

Capt. June Cerbo, acting spokesman of Chief Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said there are no reports yet that the gunmen with their hostages are heading to the islands of Basilan and Sulu, which are areas known to have strong presence of the Abu Sayyaf group.

Cerbo said Guerrero has already alerted the ground military units and the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) to conduct the necessary interdiction once confirmed that the suspects are heading to the area.

According to Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS), police report indicated that the suspects and their captives boarded a speedboat, which landed in the coastal village of Pantukan in Compostela Valley.

Arrojado said troops in Sulu were alerted to conduct a rescue operation not discounting the possibility that abductors might slip the blockade operation in the mainland.

“All efforts have been coordinated by the Westmincom to the Eastmincom in tracking the location of the victims and the suspects,” Arrojado added.