Bart & Ineke finally arrive in Dumaguete after a long flight via London, Hong Kong, Manila and Cebu City. They talked to Paul from Apo Island. Paul was already contacted by email by Jos de Bruijn (a friend of Jacco's). Together with Paul they will try to set up a plan to hopefully do an air search over islands and coastal areas in the south-western part of the Philippines. They're momentarily looking into the costs of an operation like this.

The Philippinian government has issued permission for an air search by helicopters and planes. The Dutch embassy was regularly in touch with the government. The consul honouree is easy to reach, gives good advises and uses his influences where he can. You can see he works hard on this case. Today Bart & Ineke had a meeting with governor Arnaiz of Negros Oriental, mayor Perdices of Dumaguete, chief officer Tubog of the coast guard, and head police, Mr. Bolodo. They all agreed that the police stations in Zamboanga del Norte would be informed via the governor of Zamboanga del Norte. In Zamboanga city and Basilan Island police and coast guard are already on the look out.

Thanks to governor Arnaiz, Bart & Ineke were able to assist in an air search using a helicopter of the Philippinian army. They searched from Zamboanga del Norte till Sindigan, Apo Island and the islands of Silino and Aligbay. Unfortunately no traces were found. They did see however that the coastline of Zamboanga del Norte is heavily populated which reduces the chance that they washed ashore there and were found. They talked to a rescue team about the situation. They were told that a lot of fishermen fish in the Sulu Sea. These fishermen should have found them by now if they were floating around (we think that a reward for information may help the fishermen to be more alert). The head of Consular Affairs of the Dutch embassy arrived in Dumaguete today. They agreed that the Dutch embassy will make sure all police and coast guard stations around the Sulu Sea will be informed of the missing case and that information on the whereabouts of Marcel, Jacco and Klaas will be rewarded. The stations are: Zamboanga del Norte, Basilan island, Jolo, Tawi-tawi, Palawan, Panay, Guimares and the west coast of Negros including the array of tiny islands and the two islands in the middle of the Sulu Sea. Also areas that have been contacted before, such as east and southeast Negros, Siquijor and Apo will be contacted again. The Dutch embassy in Manila will inform the embassies of Jakarta, Indonesia, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to ensure the coastal area of Borneo will also receive the same information.

The reward will be 50.000 Peso (100 Euro) as was advised by the embassy. The reward will be mentioned in all missing persons ad together with description and photographs of Marcel, Jacco and Klaas. In this ad people who know something are requested to contact the local police or coast guard. The embassy will pay the reward if substantial information is presented.

In the Netherlands actions are undertaken to gather scientific data on the weather and ocean currents of the Sulu Sea. It is hard though to get in touch with scientists since there are only a few people working during the holiday season. Hopefully institutes in the Philippines have data points from which we will be able to get some useful information from.

Marcel and Jacco's bank accounts were checked to see whether any transactions had taken place after December 18. This wasn't the case.

The missing persons ads (with a reward) were faxed to the coast guard and police after approval by the Dutch embassy. The coast guard and police themselves will make sure the ads will be sent to all stations around the Sulu Sea. An advertisement for the Dutch embassies in Indonesia and Malaysia (by the Dutch Ministry of International Affairs) will be sent today. The Dutch embassies will further spread the ad to the east coast of Borneo. Bart & Ineke emailed all diving stations and guest houses around the Sulu Sea of which Marcel's friends collected email addresses. The embassy can't assist in this action.

Bart & Ineke also have contacted Philippinian radio stations to spread the news on the missing persons ad and the reward for information. They gave an interview to a radio station this afternoon. Also papers were contacted. Bart spoke to a dive shop owner who informed him that the type of boat that was used will float as long as the bamboo floating devices are still secured. In case these devices break off, the devices themselves will be able to keep 5 people afloat.

This morning Bart & Ineke had a conversation at a local radio station in the Philippines. They called a few other people to spread the news on the missing of Marcel, Jacco and Klaas. They spoke to governor Arnaiz, who promised them that he and the mayor would make sure the missing persons ad would be broadcasted on radio. They will also try to reach the papers. To check whether the news is spread all over the place is taking a lot of time and effort.

Bart & Ineke are still working on Philippinian radio and TV stations. Stations who yesterday promised to broadcast an item, now don't know whether they will broadcast or not. Bart & Ineke will persist their request.

Numerous ocean current data were collected from private individuals, institutes and scientists. Calculations indicate to which direction the currents may have taken the boat. The overall view is a south-western direction. Bart & Ineke spoke to the governor who wrote a letter to the governor of Zamboanga del Norte to ask for help spreading the missing persons advertisement using the media. Also the governor has informed the local media of Dumaguete and Siquijor.

A local Philippinian paper interviewed Bart & Ineke. Emails were sent to papers in Malaysia. Two of Klaas Bisschop's brothers have arrived in the Philippines where they met Bart & Ineke.

We were officially informed that the search actions are finished. The authorities however will continue their assistance in spreading the news about the missing men or in gathering information about tips.

Today radio and TV stations in Malaysia were contacted to give them information about the missing persons advertisement. Also addresses of hospitals around the Sulu Sea were collected and the hospitals were contacted by emails from here. People having websites were contacted and requested to add the missing persons ad to their website. Governor Arnaiz's help in spreading the missing persons ad in the Philippinian media had success; the ad was published in numerous national and local papers together with pictures of Marcel, Jacco and Klaas. It was also broadcasted on national TV.

Today emails to rescue places were sent out. More ocean current calculations are made in the Philippines that point to a south south-western direction. Bart & Ineke and the Bisschop brothers have a meeting with governor Arnaiz. Local TV stations will interview them too. Current data from scientific institutes will be discussed with the governor. Based on this he will decide whether he will send a letter of recommendation to the Philippinian air force to fly over the islands of Basilan and Tawi-tawi. Because he has no authority over this area, he will need an official support request from the Dutch embassy that needs to be sent out to the Philippinian air force. The letter of recommendation was sent out to the Dutch embassy on Monday evening.

In the evening Bart & Ineke and the Bisschop brothers depart for Siquijor. They will stay in a small resort close to Coral Cay. The Dutch embassy in the Philippines has supported the request to governor Arnaiz (Philippinian air force) for a new search after persistent requests from the family of the missing men. To check their last emails sent out, experts were able to crack Marcel's hotmail account. The last email was sent out on December 10. This was the most up to date travel report family and friends back home received from them.

Bart & Ineke spoke to the head of the Consular Affairs of the Dutch embassy. He doesn't know when the Philippinian authorities will answer the request. He hopes soon. In case the request meets a negative response they will switch to plan B; to rent their own plane for an air search paid by the insurance company and supported by the embassy.

This morning they had a meeting with governor Fua at 10:30 in Siquijor. No new facts came up. The governor himself arranged a visit for them together with the chief police and himself to Coral Cay. They would meet the family of the fishermen there. They talked to the owners, saw the type of boat they used and the accommodation they stayed in. They had a long conversation with the wife of one of the fishermen, an aunt of one of them, a witness (local fisherman), the police and the owners of Coral Cay. Bart & Ineke reckon they left in a small 4-person pump boat, approximately 6 meters in length, with yellow and green lines. The weather was fine when they departed. Bart & Ineke searched Marcel and Jacco's luggage and personal items; all valuables are there. They agreed to bring their entire luggage back home.

Bart, Ineke and Klaas Bisschop's brothers are back in Dumaguete. They are still waiting for an answer from the Philippinian air force. In the morning they spoke to the younger brother of one of the fishermen and a cousin of the other fisherman. They came back at night from a search action around Guimares Island. Rumours were heard that people had washed ashore there. They checked fishermen, hospitals, police and coast guard, with no results. The Dutch embassy in the Philippines also checked for information. An owner of a diving school and a friend of his will broadcast the search warrant to Zamboanga del Norte using short wave radio.

No answer has arrived from the Philippinian authorities to fly over the islands of Basilan and Tawi-tawi. According to current calculations by scientific institutes there are 3 possibilities where the currents may have taken them: to the west to Palawan, to the southwest to southern Borneo, or south southwest along the coast of Zamboanga del Norte and the islands of Basilan, Jolo and Tawi-tawi. Today they will try to arrange whether they can do an air search themselves.

Finding a helicopter turns out to be a difficult task. Most choppers aren't suitable to cross seas. Another issue is that most of them aren't in a perfect state. Another option is a looking for Cessna, a small plane. No email from the Philippines was possible today due to a power failure.

Finding a suitable and safe plane and a pilot who knows the area of the southwest of the Philippines turns out to be a difficult task. No pilot dares flying over the islands of Basilan, Jolo and Tawi-tawi. This is too dangerous. Another area they don't want to visit is Turbatha Reefs, in the middle of the Sulu Sea. This is too much open water to cross with a Cessna 4-seater, single motor. You will need at least a twin engine for this, they say. The advice is to arrange a plane (preferably a Cessna 6-seater) and a pilot in Zamboanga city. This pilot will know at which altitude the plane can be flown over Zamboanga del Norte and the islands of Basilan, Jolo and Tawi-tawi. Also Turbatha Reefs is within reach from Zamboanga city. Today Bart & Ineke made many phone calls to find out whether planes and pilots can be found in Zamboanga city. Unfortunately most places are closed on Sunday. It won't be easy...

In search for a plane... Today Bart & Ineke called for more than 3 hours to find a suitable plane and pilot. A few planes are based in Cebu city, but most choice is from planes based in Manila. Prices for the planes vary strongly. Negotiations about price and quality are taking place. To be able to fly to the southwestern area of the Philippines, a special approval will be requested. This will take a few days. They won't be able to start the air search before Thursday or Friday. No responses have arrived yet to several missing person ads in emails and papers, as on radio and TV in the Philippines.

This afternoon Bart & Ineke were busy to arrange a plane. A few price quotes arrived for two high wing and one low wing plane. A decision will be made soon. Still no answer has arrived from the Philippinian air force to our request for another air search. This afternoon the Dutch paper 'Het Parool' called us for an interview. Tomorrow they will publish an article about our search action. Jos has contacts with a Dutch news program called 'Hart van Nederland'. They may be interested in an item about the missing men. We will see. This morning the local paper, PZC, published an article about our search actions. You can read this on the 'press page'.

Finally, we have a plane!

The rent of a plane is almost a fact. Money for the plane has been transferred from Joy's account (for Marcel & Jacco) to the account of the Dutch International Affairs. The insurance company will pay an important part as well. The airplane (low wing) will arrive from Manila around 16:00 in Dumaguete. Bart & Ineke will set up a flight plan together with the pilot. The next day (Friday) they will fly to Zamboanga city where they will start the air search on Saturday. Possibly they will continue their air search on Sunday. The Dutch paper 'Het Parool' has an article on the missing men today. A journalist of a local paper called 'Brabants Dagblad' contacted Joy's this afternoon. Andr? will give an interview for the local radio ('Omroep Brabant) at 7:45 tomorrow morning. Internet provider 'Zeelandnet' (Jos works here) will mark this web site as 'Site of the day' at their start page. Thanks to all for these actions!

Air search

This afternoon the plane, a 2-motor Cessna, arrived in Dumaguete. Bart & Ineke talked to the pilot and discussed when to fly where. Tomorrow they will depart south together with Klaas Bisschop's brothers; Bart & Ineke will discuss safety issues with several instances with regards to search areas and personal safety. This afternoon, Jos and Nettie were interviewed for SBS's Dutch television program 'Hart van Nederland'. This will be broadcasted tomorrow evening.

Today Bart & Ineke together with Klaas Bisschop's two brothers searched the entire west coast of Zamboanga del Norte by air. In the afternoon the two brothers continued to Turbatha Reef, in the middle of the Sulu Sea. Upon arrival in Zamboanga airport, the press (3 journals) was awaiting them. The local media in Zamboanga city is now up to date on the search action. In Zamboanga city both couples received personal security. Tomorrow and the day after, the air search will continue. In spite of earlier messages, the item on the missing men by SBS won't be broadcasted tonight, but tomorrow evening. The item will appear in SBS's ' Hart van Nederland' at 10:30 PM. Saturday afternoon Bart & Ineke will give an interview for this item.

Today a search plane has flown again. This time Klaas Bisschop's brothers have searched the islands of Basilan, Jolo, Tawi-tawi and surrounding small islands. Pamphlets have been thrown over the main cities in the area. Unfortunately again, no traces were found. Bart & Ineke were interviewed for the Dutch broadcasting network, SBS. This will be included in tonight's broadcast about the missing men ('Hart van Nederland', SBS6, 10:30 PM). Bart set up contacts with the local authorities there. Zamboanga city isn't a safe place, but Bart & Ineke and the Bisschop brothers have 24/7 personal security. Tomorrow they will fly back to Dumaguete. Andr? gave an interview this afternoon for the regional radio of the southern Netherlands, Omroep Zeeland.

This morning Bart & Ineke and the Bisschop brothers left Zamboanga city. They continued the air search for a while and dropped the last pamphlets before they crossed the Sulu Sea back to Dumaguete. Unfortunately the air search did not yield any information. The case of the missing men however is now known all over the south-western part of the Philippines thanks to the 7.500 pamphlets and interviews at local radio and TV stations. We are still hoping for responses. The Bisschop brothers will depart homewards tomorrow. Bart & Ineke will probably depart this Wednesday. Tomorrow the regional paper of the southwestern part of the Netherlands, PZC, will bring another story on the search operation. For today and tomorrow morning updates on the regional radio station in the southwestern part of the Netherlands are planned.

The Dutch embassy in the Philippines was contacted to check whether any responses to the pamphlets and interviews have arrived. Unfortunately this wasn't the case. We have to wait and hope responses will arrive to the missing persons ads. Bart & Ineke worked on updates for the last press offensive in the Philippines. Jacob and Roelof Bisschop departed for the Netherlands. The Dutch regional TV station, Omroep Zeeland, broadcasts an item on the search operation again today.

Every day inqueries are made to check whether any reponses to the pamphlets are reported. So far no responses have arrived. In the meantime Bart & Ineke decided to extend their stay in the Philippines. They will now depart on Saturday January 25. During the next few days they hope for a respons as communication within the Philippines is slow.

Bart & Ineke are slowly winding up their actions in the Philippines. Bart & Ineke: "We're trying to publish an article in the paper to thank all that helped us, especially governor Arnaiz. We will thank our personal contacts personally. There are still a few little things we will try to arrange from here." No further news today.

Neither an update yesterday, nor a lot of news today. We are waiting for news that seems not to arrive. Still no responses to the pamphlets and missing persons' ads and the clock is ticking. Bart & Ineke said their farewells to the people in Dumaguete who became good friends. Tomorrow they will depart for the Netherlands. It will be hard for them to go back home without having found any signs of the whereabouts of Marcel and Jacco. Today they brainstormed on anything they may have missed during their search, but they didn't come to new ideas. They have done everything they could possibly achieve there. We will continue our search from the Netherlands. We can still keep the search of the missing men to the attention of the people in the Philippines by website, email and telephone. We will keep hope and continue our search!

Today Bart & Ineke arrived at Schiphol airport, the Netherlands. Their trip home took 27 hours! Family and friends from Amsterdam, Tilburg and Wemeldinge welcomed them at the airport. After an emotional welcome we caught up for a good hour in the coffee corner. After a well-deserved period of rest Bart & Ineke will visit the province of Zeeland, the southwestern part of the Netherlands, in the coming week where we all will discuss how to continue our search.

Photo album

We are working on a photo album of Marcel and Jacco's trip to the Philippines. It will also include photographs of Bart & Ineke's search action. It may take some days for it to be finished.

Still no responses to the pamphlets and missing persons' ads. Early next week a letter of thanks by the family of Marco & Jacco will be sent to Governor Arnaiz of Negros Oriental and Bobby Aboitiz, consul honouree of Cebu, to thank them again personally for all the assistance and effort they showed during Bart & Ineke's stay in the Philippines. This weekend Bobby Aboitiz will depart for Dumaguete to thank Governor Arnaiz personally for all his support. In the Netherlands, new links to the website of Marcel-Jacco are daily established.

to all the people

sunday 13-04-03