ZAMBOANGA, Philippines
A German couple missing since their abandoned yacht was found last month off the southern Philippines coast were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants, according to an independent source and authorities.
Prof. Octavio Dinampo of Mindanao State University in Sulu told the Anadolu Agency on Tuesday that the couple were brought to the Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Sulu by speedboat, where they are being held with two European birdwatchers, kidnapped February 1 last year.
Chief Supt Noel delos Reyes confirmed that the couple had "been transferred to Sulu by the Abu Sayyaf group.”
The man and woman went missing after sailing from the Philippines' island of Palawan on April 14 with a small group of motor yachts bound for Sabah, Malaysia, but whereas the rest of the party arrived safely, their boat - the M/V Catherine - never arrived.
Police coordinated a search for the yacht, only for it to be found unmanned.
A Filipino health official - who declined to be named as he was not authorized to speak to media - said Tuesday that a Chinese tourist and Filipina resort worker kidnapped from a Malaysian resort April 3 were also being held by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.
The official said information on Gao Hua Yuan and Marcelita Dayawan's whereabouts had been relayed to him by other health workers.
"The Abu Sayyaf wants ransom before releasing the two women so as to buy high powered weapons and to entice support from villagers,” he added.
Kidnappers - thought to be Abu Sayyaf - have issued a ransom demand of US$11 million (P500 million pesos) for the Chinese tourist’s release.
The Abu Sayyaf is fighting for an Islamic state in Mindanao and has been blamed for some of the worst "terror" attacks in the Philippines' history.
The militant group has been linked to Al-Qaeda and has beheaded hostages in the past. In December 2013, it kidnapped Baker Atyani, a Jordanian journalist. He was freed in January this year.
Abu Sayyaf also kidnapped Americans Guillermo Sobero and Martin and Gracia Burnham from the Dos Palmas resort on the island of Palawan in 2001.
They were brought to Abu Sayyaf stronghold Jolo island in the deep south, where Sobero was later beheaded.
Martin was shot dead during a military rescue operation in 2002 while Gracia was unhurt and rescued.
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