No ransom demand yet as troops scour W. Mindanao

From the Daily Tribune (Apr 4): No ransom demand yet as troops scour W. Mindanao

Government troops are now combing Western Mindanao, particularly near Malaysian border, to locate the four Malaysians reportedly kidnapped by the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group.

The abduction of the Malaysians came while the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) is still reeling from the kidnapping of 10 Indonesian crewmen of tugboat Brahman 12 along the waters of Zambasulta (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi Tawi) area last week.

A Malaysian official said there has been no ransom demand as yet for the four.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said police were still determining whether the abduction involved cross-border crime and whether the Abu Sayyaf group was involved.

Commenting on the security in Sabah waters, Khalid said the waters around the southern Philippines and east Malaysia border were not safe.

Khalid suggested that any form of assistance, trade and the supply of essential goods from Sabah to the southern Philippines be suspended immediately.

He said such activities made it difficult for security forces to monitor the area more extensively.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said police were still investigating and gathering information, including the location of the incident.

“We must not jump into conclusions. It could have happened in international waters because they were on the way back to Tawau. The incident reportedly happened off Ligitan which is vast and we have our assets there,” Bernama news agency quoted him as saying.

“So, investigations are still ongoing,” he said, adding the ship and crew had been brought to Tawau and their statements recorded.

The kidnapping was the second in less a week after Indonesian registered tugboat Brahman 12 was intercepted reportedly off the waters of Tawi Tawi.

Ten Indonesian crewmembers were reported taken as captives. Initial reports tagged the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Abu Misaya as responsible.

Police and military authorities, however, stated there has been no validated report as to who pulled off the interception of Brahman 12 at high sea and where were the victims taken.

Reports said the Abu Sayyaf group demanded P50 million in ransom for the release of the 10 Indonesians.

Malaysia said the victims, all crewmen of a Malaysian vessel, were snatched around 7 p.m. on Saturday, and may have been taken to Mindanao by their kidnappers who were possibly members of the Abu Sayyaf Group.

The series of kidnappings happened while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is conducting focuses combat operations against the Abu Sayyaf groups in Basilan and Sulu.

The AFP has intensified operations against the Abu Sayyaf since November last year upon the orders of President Aquino following the beheading of Malaysian captive Bernard Then in Jolo.     

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/no-ransom-demand-yet-as-troops-scour-w-mindanao