On 22 December, the Philippine military forces rescued two Indonesian fishermen who were kidnapped from their vessel by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) on 23 September, in the waters of Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia, ReCAAP ISC informed in its weekly piracy report.
To remind, on 23 September 2019, at about 1300 hrs, seven perpetrators wearing mask and military camouflage uniform boarded the fishing boat SN3384/F and abducted three Indonesian crew. They then fled towards the waters of Tawi-tawi, Philippines.
With the rescue of the two Indonesian crew, there is still one Indonesian crew held in captivity. The Philippine authorities are carrying out all efforts to locate the crew.
The two rescued crew members were airlifted to Western Mindanao Command at around 1500 hrs on 22 December and brought to Camp General Navarro hospital for medical check-up and debrief; before handed over to the Indonesian government.
As the risk of the abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah is high, ReCAAP ISC reiterates its advisory issued via ReCAAP ISC Incident Alert dated 21 Nov 16 to all ships to reroute from the area, where possible. Otherwise, ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance while transiting the area, and report immediately to the Operation Centres of Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) of Malaysia,
…ReCAAP ISC advised.
A similar incident occurred in June 2019 in Malaysian waters, when a group of gunmen kidnapped a total of 9 fishermen from two vessels in the waters of Lahat Datu, Sabah.
