A respected campaigner who works on behalf of kidnap victims in the Philippines has taken up the case of Hong Kong resident Carole Day, who disappeared in the country two weeks ago.
In an indication of how seriously the Philippine government is taking the situation, Teresita Ang See, of the respected Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order, says she was called by President Benigno Aquino's spokesman yesterday for an update on the case.
'I think they are taking this very seriously,' Ang See said of the Philippine government. 'Even the Malacanang Palace, the spokesperson of the president himself called me up to ask me for updates.'
Ang-See said the Philippine government was giving Day's disappearance high priority in the wake of last month's hostage-taking in Manila, in which eight Hong Kong people were killed after an armed former policeman took over a tour bus.
Day's eldest son, Jai, 24, who is in the Philippines with his brother Jamie, 21, looking for their mother, said police had told him she may have been kidnapped by a gang.
Day, 56, a Hong Kong resident of 22 years, was last seen by her business partner and was meant to be leaving that day for Cebu or for Thailand.