KOTA KINABALU: The gunmen who held three Indonesian crewmembers of a Sabah-registered fishing vessel in southern Philippines may have been members of the Filipino security forces, say police.

       Beluran OCPD Supt Kasim Muda said that based on the statements given by the trio upon their return to Malaysian waters on April 27, they were held by a group of nine men, five of whom wore police vests.

       He said the Indonesians told Malaysian police that the five had identified themselves as Philippine police and that the four others were Filipino civilians.

       He said the Indonesians were told to hand over money if they wanted to return home safely as they had allegedly encroached on the Philippines' borders.

       “Based on what the victims said, during the incident on April 24, one of them was gathering their catch when he noticed a vessel pulling up beside their boat,” Supt Kasim said.

       He said the victim turned to flee but saw that an armed man was standing in front of their vessel, pointing a gun at him and asking him to switch off the boat engine.

       “Eight people went up the boat after that. They were taken into the Philippines’ borders,” he said, adding the incident occurred within Malaysian borders.

       Supt Kasim said the Indonesians were asked to prepare RM65,000 from their employer, to which the employer prepared for them.

       “They were asked to pay the money as they had allegedly encroached into the Philippines' waters, but the Indonesian crewmen insisted they were still within Malaysian waters when the incident happened,” he said.

       He said the employer had prepared the money and instructed two of his other workers to send it to them on April 26. They were released after payment was made.

       Supt Kasim said the crewmen were not harmed in any way throughout the incident.