Sun.Star: Jeddah bank envoy, companion missing in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) police have launched a search operation to locate the whereabouts of a Jeddah-based bank scholarship coordinator and his Filipino companion, who were reported missing in the island province of Sulu. Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, Armm police director, said on Monday that they cannot ascertain yet whether Morced Tagitis and his companion were abducted since they do not know yet “what happened to them." Tagitis, an engineer, works as a scholarship program coordinator of the Islamic Development Bank of Jeddah (IDBJ). His companion was not immediately identified. Goltiao said initial reports showed that Tagitis and his companion checked-in last October 30 for a five-day stay in a hotel located in Barangay Kakuyagan, Jolo -- the province’s capital. “To us, their status is missing. They went out and have not returned," Goltiao said. “Including his companion is also missing." The two were reported missing by Tagitis’s family when they lost contact on him through his cellular phone. Goltiao said they are coordinating with Tagitis’s office in Davao to determine whether or not he is a foreigner. “Initially we are informed that he (Tagitis) is from Davao. His companion is a Filipino," he said. Kidnapped Superintendent Danilo Bacas, spokesman for the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Armm, sought to downplay speculations that it was the Abu Sayyaf rebels who kidnapped Tagitis. “They are just assuming that it was the Abu Sayyaf because it happened in our area. But I would like to ask them not to report that this is an abduction," he said. Bacas said investigations are ongoing to determine if Tagitis was indeed kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf. “We are not yet sure," he said. At the moment, Goltiao said the police in Sulu are still puzzled as to what happened to them (Tagitis and his companion) since they have not heard of any demand yet, particularly ransom, had the duo been abducted. He stressed that they are still verifying if Tagitis was indeed a kidnap victim. “We are still verifying if the victim was abducted by the bandit group, as of now he is still missing, that is all we can say at the moment," he said. Reports reaching this city disclosed that Tagitis is also an appointed IDBJ counselor as well as a risk management consultant for the World Bank. Tagitis is reportedly in Sulu looking for prospective scholars. “We don’t know the intention of his travel to Sulu. We are coordinating with his office," Goltiao however said. - Sun.Star