TAWAU: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) is taking all measures to curb kidnapping for ransom by criminals from southern Philippines.
ESSCom director-general Datuk Mohammad Mentek said the recent kidnapping cases had posed a major challenge to ESSCom in coordinating the operation of various defence and security agencies to protect the security of Sabahans especially in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).
He said ESSCom was established on April 1 last year to ensure intrusion by Sulu terrorists in Tanduo, Lahad Datu on Feb 12 did not recur.
According to media reports and Filipino government statistics, there were more than 20 incidents of kidnapping last year.
Mohammad said the kidnapping in Pom Pom last November and Singamata Resort on April 2 showed ESSCom security teams should not take cross border criminals lightly.
“As such, ESSCom security comprising the armed forces, police and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency have increased the number of assets, including boats and ships by 30 per cent to patrol the waters of Semporna without affecting patrols in other areas,” he said in an interview with Radio Tawau here yesterday.
Yesterday, Mohammad was quoted as saying a group of kidnappers from southern Philippines was forced to change their plan after failing to penetrate the tight security in ESSZone.
He said there are 361 islands in ESSZone, including 83 that are located in the Semporna waters. — Bernama