ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, Philippines – More than 10 armed men abducted at dawn Monday, May 4, the chairman of Aliguay, one of Dapitan’s two island barangays, and two members of the Philippine Coast Guard. The suspects turned to these 3 men after failing to see foreign tourists in what could have been a plan for kidnapping-for-ransom. Police officials here are mum on the incident, and have identifid only Barangay Chairman Rodolfo Buligao among the victims. In Manila, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed the abduction, but refused to reveal the identities of the two personnel. It only described them as members of Coast Guardsman Course Class 18 and 26, and they are First and Second Class Seaman assigned in PCG's station in Dapitan. Commander Armand Balilo, PCG spokesman, said the agency had alerted the monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) 3006 to pursue the kidnappers and step up security surveillance in the area. The MCS 3006 is a vessel owned by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) but manned by the PCG. It would be scouring the towns of Liloy, Sindangan, and Siocon – all in Zamboanga del Norte – as the PCG suspects that the suspects possibly brought the victims in those coastal towns. Continue reading... Pretty close to home is it not?
Whilst in dauin yesterday I noticed a small military boat heading back toward Dumaguete, maybe something to do with this issue. It's not far over to Dapitan and a few tourists abducted from any resort here would upset things for quite a while. And who's going to stop them, there are no resources here to patrol the coastlines!
Actually I am surprised it has not happened sooner from the Dauin, Zamboanguita coastal resorts, only a matter of time I suspect. Rich pickings there for kidnappers.
I would think that Siquijor would be a great place for a large CG/Navy outpost. You would think with their own people getting kidnapped now that they would be calling an all-out war against these kidnapping syndicates/gangs. Even if you are broke and can't pay the ransom they can still find ways to make money off of you. Syndicates kidnap women and children, sell victims’ organs for P100,000- P500,000 | Kicker Daily News
One of our forum members and his family recently stayed at the upscale Dakak Beach Resort near Dapitan. Scary news and close to home.
We spent a delightful few days recently at Dapitan. Rented a scooter and drove around the area, including taking in the sumptuous Sunday brunch buffet at Dakak. Dangerous? I don’t know. Probably no more dangerous than driving from Dauin to Dumaguete several times a week, but in light of the Coast Guard incident, we probably won’t go back for a while.
An article in today's Inquirer online quotes a local police chief saying that politicians raise money for upcoming elections by kidnapping. I have visited Dapitan, and would not avoid it on account of this incident.
Incredible. If that is true and I suspect it is, the entitled, pompous, above the law and corrupt belief system there is far deeper than I imagined. I am happy to hear you state it would not deter you from returning. I have been to neighboring Dipolog a couple of times and had a good impression. Orderly, low crime. I never felt grossly at risk. Nice town in fact.
