39 Malaysians, Indons caught for illegal entry

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Authorities have detained 39 Indonesian and Malaysian fishermen for allegedly poaching in border waters off Tawi-Tawi, the military said yesterday.

A Navy task force searching for an Indonesian and two Malay—sians abducted by suspected Abu Sayyaf guerrillas came upon nine foreign fishing boats on Wednesday whose crewmembers failed to present fishing permits, Navy spokesman Capt. Geronimo Malabanan said.

The boats and the 39 crewmen were detained in waters surrounding Taganak and Baguan islands in the Tawi-Tawi group near the Malaysian state of Sabah. They are now being held by the Coast Guard in Taganak, Malabanan said in a statement.

The missing Indonesian, Walter Sampel, and two Malay—sians, Toh Chiu Tiong and Wong Siu Ung, are crewmen of a barge that was boarded by suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen in the Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi group last Sunday. — Roel Pareño