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Philippine gov't still checking reported abduction of Malaysian seamen: official

Xinhua, April 3, 2016 Adjust font size:

Philippine authorities are still verifying the reported abduction of four Malaysian sailors in waters off the country's Sabah state on North Borneo, near southern Philippines, a senior government official said Sunday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said there was no confirmation yet that armed militants seized the four Malaysians Friday night.

"We are still waiting on the verification of the Department of Foreign Affairs and other authorities," he said in an interview at a state-run radio station.

Sabah police reportedly said that the four abducted crewmen were among the nine crew members of a ship which was heading back to Malaysia from the Philippines. The other five Myanmar and Indonesian nationals were released.

Earlier this week, authorities said 10 Indonesian seamen were kidnapped by suspected local terrorist group off Tawi-tawi in southern Philippines. Endit