Asia-Pacific News
LEAD: Two European birdwatchers abducted in southern Philippines
Feb 1, 2012, 11:18 GMT
Manila - Two European birdwatchers were abducted Wednesday in the southern Philippines by unidentified gunmen, police and local officials said.
A Filipino tourist guide was also taken with the Europeans while they were riding a small boat off the island town of Panglima Sugala in Tawi-Tawi province, said Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag.
Latag said the Europeans were identified as Elwold Horn, 52, from Holland and Lorenzo Vinciguerra, 47, from Switzerland. Their Filipino guide was Ivan Sadenas from the southern city of Davao.
Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali said the two foreigners and tourist guide had been in Panglima Sugala for the past two weeks to bird watch and were on their way home when abducted.
'The hostages were accompanied by a police officer, a village official and a local resident on a small boat on their way back to the main town of Bongao,' he said. 'But the armed men forced the three other Filipinos off the boat and seized the three.'
Sahali said the Europeans were in Panglima Sugala 'because there are vanishing bird species that can only be seen' on the island town and nearby areas.
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