October 10, 2003, The People's Daily, Abu Sayyaf holding hostages abducted in Borneo: report

October 10, 2003, The People's Daily, Abu Sayyaf holding hostages abducted in Borneo: report

The Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group in the southern Philippines might be holding the hostages abducted from a beach resort in Sabah state in eastern Malaysia, the ABS-CBN on-line news reported Thursday.

The unidentified source was quoted as saying that Jambuladin Natukan, a pirate based in Sabah, led nine others in the abduction of six persons, including three Indonesians and three Filipinos at the Borneo Paradise Resort on Sunday night.

From Sabah, the six were brought to the hinterlands of Patikul town, Sulu province in southern Philippines, the source said, adding that Malaysian pirates still maintain ties with the Abu Sayyaf.

Natukan was reportedly trained in a field camp of Moro National Liberation Front, a former rebel group in southern Philippines which signed a peace agreement with the government in 1996. Abu Sayyaf leader and spokesman Abu Sabaya also trained together with Natukan.

The naval forces of Malaysia and the Philippines have stepped up security on border areas. So far there has been no demand for ransom, said the source, adding that the abduction was meant to embarrass the Philippine government ahead of a visit by US President George W. Bush to the country.