5 Filipino militant suspects detained in Semporna, Kunak last year

 

Esscom commander Victor Sanjos said the suspects fled to the country illegally from the Philippines. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Authorities detained five Filipinos with suspected links to militant group Abu Sayyaf in Semporna and Kunak, in Sabah, last year.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Victor Sanjos said the suspects had been in the country illegally after fleeing from the Philippines, Bernama reported.

However, he did not reveal when the suspects were arrested or their identities.

The five had no family members in Sabah, he added.

“The five were nabbed in a joint operation with teams from Bukit Aman, Sabah, the Malaysian armed forces, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Esscom itself,” he was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Victor said the Special Branch had listed 13 “wanted” people for their involvement in militant activities and cross-border crimes.

He said Esscom was actively monitoring the 13 to prevent them from entering the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESS Zone).

Victor added that the ESS Zone had remained stable without any kidnapping incidents since 2020.

“Since 2015, security forces have shot dead 20 members of the Abu Sayyaf group, and 17 people associated with a group of kidnappers. From 2014 to 2018, security forces also thwarted 12 kidnapping attempts and sea robberies.”

Victor said there were 21 kidnappings for ransom in the ESS Zone waters, involving 58 victims, and that 51 victims had been rescued. He said six people were killed, and one person was still missing.

He added that since Esscom was established over a decade ago, several Abu Sayyaf cells and kidnapping groups had been dismantled through various special operations conducted in collaboration with security forces and intelligence sharing with Filipino and Indonesian authorities. - FMT