KHALID: We are
still awaiting confirmation from the Philippine authorities
The claims that another four Malaysians have been kidnapped off Sulu waters this morning could not be confirmed yet.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police were still awaiting confirmation from Philippines authorities.
Philippines broadcaster ABS-CBN earlier today reported that gunmen have kidnapped four Malaysians from a ship off the east coast of Sabah, where Abu Sayyaf militants were known to operate.
"Whether or not they were seized by the Abu Sayyaf or brought to the Philippines, we have yet to confirm," Tan reportedly said.
Just last week, Abu Sayyaf militants had released four Malaysian sailors whom they held for more than two months.
The Abu Sayyaf, a loose network of Islamic militants, has earned millions of dollars from kidnappings in recent years.
Formed in the early 1990s, the Abu Sayyaf is a radical offshoot of a Muslim separatist insurgency in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines.
The kidnap-for-ransom group regularly abduct foreigners and locals to extort money for their release.
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