Abu Sayyaf seized five Indonesians near Sabah –WestMinCom

Mindanao bandit group Abu Sayyaf abducted five Indonesians near Sabah in the Philippines' southernmost border last Thursday, the Western Mindanao Command  confirmed Sunday.

WestMinCom chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said Malaysian authorities immediately notified them that eight people were abducted off Tambisan Island in Lahad Datu in Sabah by six suspected Abu Sayyaf members.

However, the abductors released three of the hostages and ordered them to return to Lahad Datu.

The freed hostages, in turn,  informed authorities about the incident, Sobejana said.

On the other hand, Sobejana said that an encounter between WestMinCom soldiers and Abu Sayyaf members on Sulare Island, Sulu on Saturday morning led to the death of a still unidentified terrorist, from whom authorities recovered an m16 rifle bandoleer and cellphones.

Saturday morning's clash also resulted in the destruction of the Abu Sayyaf’s twin-engine speed boat, which was positively identified by the three Indonesian fishermen as the vessel used to abduct them last Thursday.

Sobejana said there is a high probability that the abductors and five fishermen are still on Sulare Island or in the vicinity of Parang, Sulu.

“Naka-focus ‘yung aming effort diyan. Nando’n na ngayon, anytime pag magkaroon ng, kung sighted na ‘yung kalaban, magkaro’n ng engkuwentro at hopefully ma-rescue natin safely itong limang Indonesian nationals,” he told reporters. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LBG, GMA News