Navy searching Tawi-Tawi areas for victims, suspects in Sabah kidnapping

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The Philippine Naval forces launched search on the probable landing site in Tawi-Tawi province where suspected Abu Sayyaf militants have taken their  Chinese female tourist and Filipino resort staff  from a resort in Sabah Tuesday night, according to a senior official here.

Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, who was in the Naval Task Force 62 headquarters, said naval vessels are hunting down the location of the abductors in Tawi-Tawi Wednesday.

Guerrero said they have received information that the  kidnappers on board a speedboat headed toward the southernmost province area.

“The Naval Task Force 62 is conducting active search of the probable landing areas,” Guerrero said.

The military official said te victims were taken from  Singahmata Reef Resort off Semporna.

Reports reaching the military command here disclosed that unidentified gunmen believed to be members of the notorious Abu Sayyaf group barged into the Sabah resort and forcibly took the two victims about 10:30 p.m. and escaped on board a motorized pumpboat heading towards the direction of Tawi-Tawi.

Guerrero said the naval forces were coordinating their operation with their Malaysian counterpart in the border to track down the gunmen and their captives.

Guerrero said Westmincom units operating in the Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (BaSulTa) areas have been on alert and on the lookout for the possible presence of the suspects' boat in the region.