Ship masters and crew are urged to exercise extra vigilance when transiting the waters off Eastern Sabah and Sulu-Celebes Seas, Asian piracy watchdog said, due to a threat of being kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf Group.
Aby Sayyaf is one of the most violent jihadist groups in the southern Philippines, notorious for kidnappings for ransom.
According to a warning issued by the Philippine Coast Guard, a group of approximately 10 Abu Sayyaf Group members armed with pistol, rifles and grenade launcher is planning to conduct kidnapping activities at any opportune time in undisclosed areas in Sabah.
The armed group is primarily targeting businessmen or crew of foreign vessels passing through the area, the coast guard informed.
The group is said to be using unmarked colored blue and white motorbanca locally known as jungkong.
The militant group is known for keeping mariners in captivity for months or even years in dire conditions, sometimes even resulting in execution. This is in particular due to the fact that the Philippine government has adopted a no-ransom policy when dealing with the militant group.
亞洲海盜監管機構表示，由於受到阿布沙耶夫集團綁架的威脅，船長和船員在過境沙巴東部和蘇魯 - 西里伯斯海域時要提高警惕。
Aby Sayyaf是菲律賓南部最暴力的聖戰組織之一，因綁架勒索而臭名昭著。
根據菲律賓海岸警衛隊發出的警告，一群約10名阿布沙耶夫集團成員攜帶手槍，步槍和榴彈發射器計劃在任何適當的時間在沙巴未公開的地區進行綁架活動。
據海岸警衛隊通報，武裝團體的主要目標是通過該地區的外國船隻的商人或船員。
該組織據稱使用無標記的藍色和白色motorbanca，在當地稱為jungkong。
眾所周知，激進組織在嚴峻的條件下將海員綁架數月甚至數年，有時甚至導致死刑。這尤其是因為菲律賓政府在與激進組織打交道時採取了無贖金政策。
Information source: World Maritime News Staff
