Abu Sayyaf militants whose group is tied to the Islamic State is reportedly planning to strike off the coast of Sabah in Malaysia and are likely to target seafarers, according to Asian piracy watchdog ReCAAP.
The Singapore-based ReCAAP or the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, issued the warning to seafarers over crew abduction threat posed by members of Abu Sayyaf in Malaysia.
In its report, ReCAAP said Abu Sayyaf militants will be using a 3-engine speedboat to kidnap mariners operating in the area. “All vessels transiting the area are advised to exercise extreme caution when transiting in the waters of Lahad Datu and surrounding waters in Sabah,” the warning further reads.
It said since October 2016, the militants have begun to target ships of larger tonnage, such as Dong Bang Giant 2, Royal 16, Southern Falcon and Kumiai Shagang. Once in their hands, mariners are often subject to months of captivity and sometimes even execution. This is in particular due to the fact that the Philippine government has adopted a no-ransom policy when dealing with the Abu Sayyaf group.
Bulk Carriers
In November 2016, six men were taken by the militants from the bulk carrier Royal 16. Bodies of two decapitated seafarers were found by the Philippine military in July 2017, while one seafarer was allegedly killed in a gun battle in the same month. Two seafarers have been rescued from the group, while the fate of one more mariner remains unknown.
The Abu Sayyaf is still holding over a dozen mostly foreigners, including seafarers, kidnapped off Basilan and Tawi-Tawi provinces in the Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines; and had previously launched surprised raids in Sabah.
There was no immediate statement from Filipino authorities on the report.
Kidnapped
The Abu Sayyaf has recently kidnapped 2 policewomen and two civilians in Sulu province. Policemen and soldiers were searching for police officers Benierose Alvarez and Dinah Gumahad who are assigned with the crime laboratory and engineering department or the regional police force, and civilians Jakosalem Blas and Faizal Ahijid.
They were travelling on a motorcycle taxi when about a dozen gunmen flagged down their vehicle in Liang village in Patikul town and took them away. Police have identified the gang’s leader as Mujir Yada and that the Abu Sayyaf is demanding P5 million ransoms for the safe release of the policewomen.
It was unknown why no policemen and soldiers were guarding the highway or why authorities failed to prevent the abductions despite an extended martial rule on the whole southern region.
Security
Military and police authorities have miserably failed to impose tight security not only in Jolo, but elsewhere in the province, including Patikul town where the Capitol Building is located.
Abu Sayyaf militants had previously attacked Jolo and kidnapped innocent civilians despite the presence of military and police camps in the town. Even the town’s police headquarters are not safe anymore and also attacked in the past.
Police and military checkpoints and patrol were also limited in many towns and by nightfall there are hardly any soldiers and policemen guarding vital government installations in Jolo and nearby areas.
Protect Communities
Sulu Governor Totoh Tan has repeatedly rallied his mayors to work hard in protecting their communities and at the same time working hard to lure investors to put up business in Sulu. Tan had repeatedly ordered authorities to impose a tighter security in the town and for the military to help police in maintaining peace and order in the province.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government has removed last year the supervision of the local executives over the police, which relied heavily on the support of local governments in their campaign against criminality.
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