PHL-based kidnap-for-ransom gang eyed in Sabah resort abduction of Pinay, Chinese

Authorities in Sabah suspect a kidnap-for-ransom gang based in "southern Philippines" may be behind Wednesday night's abduction of a Filipina resort worker and a Chinese tourist at a stilt resort there.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib also said police suspect the seven gunmen in the abduction may have had inside help to enter the resort, Malaysia's The Star Online reported Thursday.

“It looks like kidnap-for-ransom groups (KFR) are behind this. The group that came in abducts the victims and then sell them to other groups," he said.

He also noted “anyone wanting to enter the resort area needed to be brought or let in by a Singamata Reef Resort staff."

The report identified the Filipina staff as "Mimi," and the Chinese tourist as Gao Hua Yuan.

For now, Hamza said they are recording the statements of the 49 resort workers and 61 tourists. The tourists include 59 Chinese, one Iranian and one Malaysian.

But as of late Thursday, he said no arrest has been made.

Gunmen grabbed Pinay first

The report said police believe the Chinese tourist, Gao Hua Yuan, may have been randomly picked up.

Gao arrived at the Singamata Reef Resort with two other friends April 2 for a diving course, the report said.

Hamza said their initial investigation showed the group landed at the resort's rear entrance then grabbed "Mimi," then took Gao while they were escaping.

He added four gunmen remained on the boat while three others went up into the 40-room stilt resort built on a reef.

Citing information reaching him, he said the Chinese girl was "screaming and saying in English ‘I don't want to go.’"

But he said no shots were fired and no one was injured during the 30-minute raid. — Joel Locsin/BM, GMA News

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