A warning issued in May over members of the Abu Sayyaf group looking to kidnap crew from ships in waters in the southern Philippines and East Malaysia has been repeated.
The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) said that 21 June 2020, five members of the Abu Sayyaf Group were sighted in Barangay Sipangkot, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi on board a white with yellow and orange stripes speedboat powered by 250HP Yamaha engine.
“The Philippine Coast Guard added that as of 30 June 2020, the plan to carry out kidnapping in Sabah and Semporna, Malaysia targeting foreigners and the abduction of crew from ships passing by the Tawi-Tawi and Sabah waters still stands,” ReCAAP said.
“Ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance when transiting the waters off Eastern Sabah and in the Sulu-Celebes Seas.”