A Malaysian couple abducted by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits Thursday night in Sandakan town in Sabah, Malaysia may have been transported to Sulu, military reports said.
Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, owner of Ocean King Restaurant and tourist Bernard Then Ted Fen, 39, were abducted from the seaside restaurant around 7 p.m. by gunmen who “wore no masks and fled on a boat,” several online sources recounted.
Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS) commander Col. Alan Arrojado said Malaysian authorities alerted the military of the captives’ possible presence in southern Philippines.
This, after initial reports indicate that the militants took the couple to Sulu aboard motorized pumpboats.
Arrojado said all security units, including the coast guard, Philippine Navy, and the Philippine National Police have been alerted in both Tawi-Tawi and Sulu to monitor the movements of the terrorist group and its hostages.
Several sources said the Malaysian couple was brought initially brought to Parang then transferred to Indanan, both in Sulu.
Six more people, including three Filipinos are believed to be still in custody of the Abu Sayyaf. Last May 14, the group has reportedly freed a teacher it abducted last March.
