Philippines seeks to assure APEC guests after kidnapping

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines

The Philippines government has sought to appease any Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) safety fears after unidentified gunmen kidnapped three foreigners and a Filipina overnight from an island resort in the southern Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday assured world leaders and delegates of extra security measures during the summit to be held in Manila in November.

“The Philippines is committed to hosting a successful APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting by implementing security measures that would ensure the safety of all APEC Leaders, delegates and guests,” it said in a statement.

On Monday night, a number of armed men aboard a motorboat arrived at the Ocean View Resort on Samal Island and went door-to-door and snatched all of the occupants.

Army Capt. Alberto Caber, spokesperson for Eastern Mindanao Command, identified the four Tuesday as a Norwegian, two Canadians, and a Filipina.

"Some of them headed to the yacht, knocked and forcibly herded the victims to their boat, before speeding off,” an unnamed army spokesperson told Anadolu Agency in a text message Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. Allan Arrojado later informed Anadolu Agency that the kidnappers spoke clear English and Tagalog and seemed to be specifically targeting the Norwegian, who was the manager of the resort.

Sup't. Lito Impas of Samal Island police told reporters that the gunmen had initially taken six people, but a Canadian and his Japanese wife were able to jump and swim to safety from the kidnappers' boat.

The couple are now confined to a hospital on the island, he added.

Before leaving with their hostages, the kidnappers left the message: "We offer these to our commander" at locations around the resort.

The police chief said he suspects that the kidnappers could be members of the New People's Army -- the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines -- or a local bandit group called the Bangsamoro Army, a mixture of breakaway members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front.

Operations are ongoing to locate the kidnappers and their victims.

The Nov. 18-19 APEC summit is expected to be attended by United States President Barack Obama, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin among representatives from the 21 APEC member economies.

It is said to be the biggest and most high profile annual gathering of world leaders, and it will be hosted by Philippines President Benigno S. Aquino III.