The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) confirms the kidnapping of a Swiss tourist on the island of Tawi-Tawi in the Philippine Sulu Archipelago (Province of Mindanao). He was kidnapped by armed men, together with a Dutch tourist and a Philippine national.
![Province of Mindanao, in the Philippine. [© FDFA]](/eda/en/home/recent/actu/philip.-ContentPar-0001-Image.ContentPartextimage.0.1.gif)
![Province of Mindanao, in the Philippine. [© FDFA] (303 x 444)](javascript:openImageWindow('/etc/medialib/images/edazen/recent/aktu.Par.0016.Image.gif?direct=1','323','464');)
The Philippine authorities have started a police operation to find the kidnapped persons.
The Swiss embassy in Manila is in constant contact with the local authorities and with the Dutch embassy.
The FDFA crisis management centre is coordinating measures with the other services concerned, notably Fedpol and the Swiss intelligence service. It is doing everything in its power to ensure that the hostages are released safe and sound. The FDFA is also in touch with the relatives of the kidnapped Swiss man and is offering them support in this difficult situation.
In its travel advice, the FDFA advises against visits to the entire Sulu Archipelago (the islands of Basilan, Jolo, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi etc.), as terrorist groups are active in these locations and military operations are carried out there. On 15 January 2009, three members of the International Committee of the Red Cross were kidnapped on the island of Jolo. There is a risk of kidnapping throughout the entire archipelago.