Claims of French tourist kidnapped by Filipino gunmen in Sabah refuted

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysian and Philippine authorities are denying reports that a French citizen was kidnapped from Sabah waters by Abu Sayyaf-linked Filipino gunmen.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) chief Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said there were no reports of any kidnappings in eastern Sabah and believed that such claims were merely to "provoke’’ security forces manning the east coast.

"There has been no reports of any kidnappings, I think they (crossborder kidnappers) are just trying to provoke us,’’ he said when contacted by phone, Sunday, over the report by a Philippines television network Interaksyon news portal TV5, claiming that the Frenchman was being kept hostage at one of the islands in Tawi Tawi province.

Tawi Tawi police chief Col Joey Salido said that there were no reports of any kidnapping whether locally or from across the border (Sabah). Tawi Tawi islands straddle close to Sabah's east coast.

"There is no information of any kidnapping,’’ he stressed when contacted, Sunday.

A report quoting Philippines intelligence sources by the online news portal claimed that a Frenchman from Sabah was "possibly’’ taken hostage.

The news portal claimed that an unnamed officer from Philipines military’s Camp Crame did not disclose when the French tourist was grabbed and did not want to disclose the identity of the hostage.

The report quoting the Philippines intelligence officer claimed that at the moment, the victim was being treated as a "guest", but once the Abu Sayyaf makes contact with French authorities, "that's the time they will issue their demands."

The report also claimed that the Malaysian authorities were aware of the abduction and they were in constant touch with them but had decided not to go public with the information.

Malaysia has tightened its security in the east coast and efforts were underway to secure the release of two Malaysians - fish breeder Chan Sai Chuin, 32 and marine police constable Kpl Zakiah Aleip, 26 - held by Abu Sayyaf gunmen in Jolo.

Chan was snatched from his fish farm in Kunak on June 16 while Zakiah was grabbed from a police post in Mabul island on July 12.