KOTA KINABALU: Police are investigating a report that three Indonesian crewmen on a Sabah registered fishing boat are being held in Philippine waters off Sabah's east coast of Pulau Jambongan.

       Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) Commander Deputy Comm Hamzah Ahmad said investigations were underway to verify the claims before they make a statement on the issue. He declined further comment.

       It was learned that the Sandakan-based fishing boat owner made a police report that was lodged on Monday (April 25) after crew's family members were informed of the incident.

       It was claimed that the three-member crew were allegedly taken by "gunmen" from waters off Pulau Jambongan which sits close to the southern Philippines' Tawi Tawi islands on Sunday (April 24) night.

       The "gunmen" were allegedly asking for between RM70,000 and RM80,000 for the release of the fishing boat and its crew aged between 35 and 52.

       It was still not clear if the crewmembers were taken from the Pulau Jambongan waters or had entered the neighbouring Philippine waters.

       The Indonesian consul had also met with the family members of the crew who were residing in Tawau.

       In previous similar incidents, Sabah-registered fishing boats were caught by Philippine maritime authorities for encroaching their waters with owners paying up to secure the release of their fishing boats and crew.

       However, crewmen and owners often dispute over whether the Sabah vessels had encroached into Philippines waters or otherwise.

       Owners also lodged reports in Sabah if they were unable to resolve it.

       According to sources, it was unlikely that the incident had anything to do with Abu Sayyaf linked gunmen involved in kidnap for ransom activities.

       Intelligence sources said the Jambongan area was not known for cross-border kidnap activities.