KOTA KINABALU: Three Indonesian crewmembers of a Sabah-registered fishing boat who were supposedly held by gunmen in southern Philippines waters have returned to Sandakan.

       Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) Commander Deputy Comm Hamzah Ahmad confirmed the crewmen's safe return.

       "They are back and we are investigating," he said on Wednesday (April 27).

       Hamzah declined to further comment on the issue.

       It is understood that the three, aged from 35 to 52, were safe and unhurt.

       Meanwhile, Filipino intelligence sources said that the owner of the fishing boat managed to secure the return of the boat from authorities in the southern Philippines.

       The crew, who were believed to be fishing in waters off Sabah's east coast Pulau Jambongan in Beluran district, allegedly encroached into southern Philippines waters late Sunday (April 24).

       The Sandakan-based fishing boat owner lodged a police report the next day (April 25) after he failed to contact his crew.

       Family members in Tawau were also contacted by someone informing them that the crewmen were being held by gunmen who wanted payment of RM70,000 for the release of the men and the boat.

       It was learnt that the release of the crew and the boat were secured late Tuesday (April 26) and the crew returned to Sandakan by 4am Wednesday.

       So far, there has been no official statement from the Philippines coast guard or other security agencies on the detention of a Malaysian fishing vessel.

       Sabah-registered fishing boats have previously been caught by Philippines maritime authorities for poaching in their waters with owners paying up to secure the release of their boats and crew.

       However, there is often dispute if the vessels had actually encroached into Philippines waters.