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DAVAO CITY: The Philippines military has confirmed reports that at least four Malaysians were kidnapped by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf group off Semporna in Sabah waters on Friday evening.
A military source confirmed that about eight armed men boarded a tugboat operated by the victims at around 6pm (7pm Malaysia) Friday using a motorized vessel.
The armed men declared that they were members of the Abu Sayyaf and requested the victims to go with them, the source said.
The perpetrators, who spoke broken English and Filipino, also took with them a laptop, cash and the mobile phones of the victims.
Initial reports said that the armed men fled along with their victims towards smaller islands.
Major Filemon Tan from the military’s Western Mindanao Command, confirmed the report but said that they are still putting together the details of the reports.
Last week, the Abu Sayyaf kidnapped 10 Indonesians who are working on a tugboat in the province of Tawi-Tawi and demanded US$1mil for their safe release. - The Philippines Inquirer/Asia News Network
