Engineer reported missing in Sulu

By Ronron
November 5, 2007

A Filipino engineer is reported missing in Sulu province since his arrival there last October 30, police officials said on Monday.

The missing engineer was identified as Murced Tagitis, said to be a coordinator of the Islamic Development Bank for its scholarship program.

Tagitis was last seen on October 30 when he checked in at USY Pension House in Barangay Kakuyagan in Jolo town at around 6am, and then checked out between 12 noon and 1 pm, said Sulu Provincial Police commander Sr. Supt. Ahiron Ajirim.

“Accordingly, he was to meet their scholars at the time that he checked out,” said Regional Police commander Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao in a separate phone interview.

The officials said the relatives of Tagitis sought police help on Sunday after they failed to contact the engineer since October 30.

Police are verifying if Tagitis came from Metro Manila or Davao City.

Ajirim said he assumes that this is not the first time Tagitis had been to Jolo.

“Apparently, he is familiar with the place because he left the pension house to meet his contacts on his own,” Goltiao said.

Ajirim said Tagitis did not make any formal coordination with the municipal or provincial police when he arrived on the island.

On Sunday, Ajirim said Tagitis stuff at the pension house were already taken out by people who knew him, assisted by police.

“There is no report that he was abducted or kidnapped so we are taking this case for now as a missing person case,” Goltiao said.

But Ajirim said he had already directed his men to trace the whereabouts of Tagitis, as Goltiao also sought the help of Sulu Governor Sakur Tan so the latter could use his local contacts.

As of Monday, Goltiao and Ajirim said nobody has owned up to having Tagitis under their custody.

Asked about the possible involvement of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), which has been involved in past kidnapping cases, Goltiao said: “It’s hard to speak if we have no evidence.”/DMS