The Abu Sayyaf Group is believed to have kidnapped a Frenchman in Sabah, Malaysia and possibly taken the hostage to one of the isles in the Tawi-Tawi islands group, a police intelligence officer said on Saturday.
The Camp Crame-based officer, who has provided reliable information in the past, shared the information on condition that he not be identified. He did not say when the Frenchman, who was on vacation, was seized, and also declined to disclose the hostage's identity.
The source claimed that the kidnappers were apparently emboldened by the reported P250-million ransom paid in exchange for the release of Germans Viktor Okonek and Henrike Dielen, who were freed in Sulu in October.
At the moment, he said, the victim is being treated as a "guest" but, once the Abu Sayyaf makes contact with French authorities, "that's the time they will issue their demands."
He said Malaysian authorities know of the abduction "and we are in constant touch with them," but have decided not to go public with the information.
The source said the Abu Sayyaf band that seized the Frenchman is "the same group behind the abduction of the two European bird watchers" in Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi in February 2012.
The bird watchers -- Leo Vinciguerra of Switzerland and Dutchman Ewold Horns -- are still being held by the Abu Sayyaf with at least eight other hostages in Sulu.
On Friday, clashes broke out in Talipao, Sulu that left five Army Scout Rangers and nine Abu Sayyaf fighters dead.
At least 26 other soldiers and three gunmen were wounded in the fighting.
The Abu Sayyaf and other lawless groups are known to cross the maritime border between the southern Philippines and Malaysia to find victims to kidnap for ransom.
Among the more infamous of these incidents was the kidnapping of more than a dozen tourists from Sabah's Sipadan Island in 2001, many of whom were freed after ransom payoffs in the millions of pesos.
The Abu Sayyaf was also responsible for the abduction of 20 persons from the high-end Dos Palmas resort in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, among them Americans Guillermo Sobero and the missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, and businessman Reghis Romero II.
Sobero was murdered while Martin Burnham died during a military rescue operation.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/99281/police-source-asg-abducts-frenchman-in-sabah
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