The police have confirmed that three crew members of a fishing vessel who were abducted in waters off Pulau Pom Pom, Semporna last night are Filipinos with valid IMM13 documents and census letters from the Special Task Force Unit.

Sabah Police Commissioner Abdul Rashid Harun said Loloi Alpin, 30; Sami, in his 30s; and Masurin, in his 50s, were taken by a group of seven heavily-armed men during a fishing trip with 13 other crew members about 10.40pm.

"During the incident, the seven masked abductors, carrying pistols and high-powered M-16 rifles approached the ship on a speedboat and went onboard.

"They instructed all crew members to lie on the floor... one of the abductors waited on the speedboat.

"The abductors later ransacked the vessel before escaping with suitcases, mobile phones and wallets belonging to the fishermen," he said in a statement in Kota Kinabalu today.

Abdul Rashid said initial investigations revealed the fishing boat made the trip at about 4pm yesterday.

'Protection list'

Meanwhile, the Sabah Fisheries and Fishing Boat Joint Association has asked the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) to include fishermen in their 'protection list', following the many kidnapping cases involving the group.

Its president, Arsani Arsat, said with such a move, Esscom could probably manage to combat kidnapping cases in Malaysian waters, particularly in the Eastern Sabah Security Zones which covered the districts of Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran.

"Fishermen have become a target for kidnappers. If they (Esscom) protect the fishermen, they can catch the kidnappers... because kidnappers have frequently targetted their victims who are obviously not protected," he told Bernama in Kota Kinabalu today.

Arsani also urged Esscom to step up patrols at least twice in 24 hours, and especially, at night.

- Bernama