Bocchi not seen in Zamboanga, whereabouts a mystery

PETALING JAYA - Italian businessman William Bocchi has not been spotted in Zamboanga City despite Sabah police having traced him to boarding a ferry bound for the destination in the southern Philip­pines.

Zamboanga City police director Senior Supt Angelito Casimiro said they had no information yet on Bocchi.

“We will check first with the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation as well as with Aleson Shipping,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer here yesterday.

(the man) 52-year-old Italian William Bocchi who was reported missing after visiting Lahad Datu on Oct 13.

Rear Admiral Reynaldo Yoma, commander of the Naval Forces South Philippine Navy, said “we will have to check with our intelligence” on the matter.

On Thursday, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said the 52-year-old Italian had boarded the ferry in the east coast town of Sandakan on Oct 14.

“He has gone to Zamboanga for a holiday,” Jalaluddin said.

Bocchi arrived in Malaysia via KLIA2 on Oct 12 and flew to Kota Kinabalu the following day before taking a connecting MASwings flight to Lahad Datu.

He was seen arriving at the Lahad Datu airport at about 1pm on Oct 13.

Lahad Datu businessman Sia Yiik Huon had reported Bocchi’s absence on Oct 20 after being alerted by a friend in Kuala Lumpur, who had in turn received an e-mail from the Italian’s colleague, whom he only knew as Fabio.

Sia had told the police that in his e-mail, Fabio said Bocchi was due to return home on Oct 16.

Although the police determined that he had gone to Zamboanga City for a “holiday” and considered the case closed, Bocchi’s choice is unusual due to the city’s reputation in light of recent news of kidnappings by armed gunmen.