KOTA KINABALU: Sabah marine police have detained six Filipinos who were trying to slip into Sandakan from the southern Philippines. Marine Police Region 4 commander Asst Comm Yazib Abd Aziz said the six illegals were nabbed by a team patrolling the waters off Pamaguan in Sandakan at 3.30pm on Friday following a tip-off. Upon spotting the marine police's vessel, the small boat sped towards land and once near the shore, the boatman jumped overboard and swam away, leaving his six passengers behind. Asst Comm Yazib said the boat with a 40-horsepower outboard engine did not have any registration number. The six suspects, aged between 16 and 45 were from Basilan, a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group led by Isnilon Hapilon.

Source: The Star September 23, 2017 11:48 UTC