‘No report on kidnap of 3 Indonesians’

ZAMBOANGA CITY – There has been no report on the alleged kidnapping of three Indonesian fishermen by the Abu Sayyaf bandit group, the military said yesterday.

The military issued the statement after reports from Sabah, Malaysia said the three Indonesians, who were working with a Sandakan-based fishing company, were discovered missing from their fishing boat.

The boat was found listing and its engines running in the waters bordering Sabah and Tawi-Tawi on Thursday.

The fishermen were believed taken on Wednesday near Pegasus Reef.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said they have not received any feedback about the incident.

Besana, who was in Sulu over the weekend, said the military has verified the report and received no information on the alleged presence of the captives and their captors in Sulu.

Quoting intelligence authorities based in Sabah, a Malaysian news firm said seven men suspected to be behind the incident were monitored to have arrived with the hostages on Pata Island in Sulu on Friday night.

The source said the gunmen, reportedly led by Almujer Yadah, moved the hostages to a village in Panamao town.

Yadah is known as a trusted man of Abu Sayyaf subleader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, whose group is believed behind the kidnapping activities and several attacks launched after the death of Abu Sayyaf leaders Muammar Askali, alias Abu Rami, and Alhabsy Misaya.