DFA confirms abduction of Filipino in Sabah

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Tuesday that a Filipino was abducted by unidentified armed men, along with a Malaysian national, off Malaysian-controlled Sabah this week.

DFA spokesman Charles Jose said the Philippines’ police attache in Kuala Lumpur received confirmation on the abduction from the Royal Malaysian Police.

Jose said the victims were seized by three masked gunmen on June 16 in Kunak, Sabah. The Malaysian is a fish trader and the Filipino is a worker.

“Police believe the kidnappers intend to bring the kidnap victims to Jolo,” he said, referring to a Philippine province in Mindanao which is a known stronghold of Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf Group.

Jose said the Philippine government does not have any information on the identity of the Filipino, but coordination is continuing between the police of the two countries.

This is the second kidnapping incident in Sabah involving a Filipino in three months.

A female Filipino resort worker was abducted in April and released after nearly two months in captivity.