Halipa takes over from the Muktadirs

Abandoned vessel: The Sabah-registered boat found listing in waters off the Philippines on Thursday

KOTA KINABALU: A notorious Abu Sayyaf sub-commander is believed to be responsible for the kidnapping of three Sandakan-based Indonesian crewmen at gunpoint in the Sulu Sea off the Phi­­lippines.

Halipa, who is on the Eastern Sabah Security Command’s (Ess­com) most wanted list, is believed to have headed into Cagayan, his home base and is trying to get to Abu Sayyaf territory in Jolo with the hostages.