THE ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is helping Malaysia track down seven Filipino bandits who kidnapped three Malaysian fishermen in Sabah, where they reportedly boarded a boat back to Southern Philippines, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday.
Lorenzana said the victims may have been brought to Tawi-tawi, Jolo or Basilan province where local terrorist groups operate.
“They knew it would be difficult for them to seek refuge in Malaysia, that was why they probably brought the victims here. But our troops are ready to address this,” Lorenzana said in an interview in Maguindanao.
The AFP’s Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) said the Malaysian military from the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) confirmed the abduction at about 11 p.m. of Sept. 10 on Pom Pom island near Mataking Island Resort off Sempurnah, Sabah.
Operating troops of Joint Task Force Tawi-tawi immediately conducted intelligence operations to validate the report and put up security points along probable routes of the gang.