silhouette of machine gun in male hands against the backdrop of the sunset over sea
ReCAPP have issued a warning around the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members planning to conduct kidnapping, please see the update of the warnings below.
WARNING 02-2020 2 JULY 2020
Reference the Warning disseminated by the ReCAAP ISC on 22 May 2020 (Warning 01-2020) about a group of five Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members planning to conduct kidnapping activities in undisclosed areas in Sabah, Malaysia (as attached).
On 2 July 2020, the ReCAAP ISC has received information from the Philippine Coast Guard (ReCAAP Focal Point) that on 21 June 2020, five members of the Abu Sayyaf Group/Kidnap-for-Ransom Group (ASG/KFRG) were sighted in Barangay Sipangkot, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi on board a white with yellow and orange stripes speedboat powered by 250HP Yamaha engine. The Philippine Coast Guard added that as of 30 June 2020, the plan to carry out kidnapping in Sabah and Semporna, Malaysia targeting foreigners and the abduction of crew from ships passing by the Tawi-Tawi and Sabah waters still stands.
Ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance when transiting the waters off Eastern Sabah and in the Sulu-Celebes Seas.
Source: Philippine Coast Guard
This information is to provide maritime situational awareness for mariners operating in the area.
WARNING 01-2020 22 MAY 2020
On 22 May, the ReCAAP ISC has received information from the Philippine Coast Guard (ReCAAP Focal Point) that a group of approximately five ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) members armed with assorted firearms is planning to conduct kidnapping activities in undisclosed areas in Sabah, Malaysia. They are targeting wealthy businessmen or crew of fishing boats and other slow moving ships plying within the waters off Sabah, Malaysia. The group came from Sulu and was monitored to have landed at Omapoy Island, Sipangkot, Sitangkai, Tawi Tawi.
Ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance when transiting the waters off Eastern Sabah and in the Sulu-Celebes Seas.
Source: Philippine Coast Guard
This information is to provide maritime situational awareness for mariners operating in the area.