Tourist abducted in Pulau Pom Pom rescued

Philippine security forces on Friday rescued a Taiwanese woman tourist who was abducted by an armed group on Pom Pom Island off Semporna, Sabah, on Nov 15, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (pic).

"Congratulations to the Philippine security forces; the Taiwanese national abducted on Pom Pom has been rescued," he tweeted Friday evening.

He also tweeted that the Malaysian police were awaiting news on the latest development from the Philippine authorities.

Khalid said the woman was rescued in Sulu and was now at the Merin Hospital there, and would be flown to Zamboanga City Saturday.

He, however, declined to elaborate on the matter when contacted by Bernama.

At 1am on Nov 15, a 57-year-old Taiwanese man was found dead with gunshot wounds while his 58-year-old female companion went missing, apparently abducted by a group of armed men who burst into their hotel room on the island.

Police arrested two men in their 30s in Kampung Bangau-Bangau, Semporna, at 3am on Dec 1.

The duo did not have any identification documents and had worked on the islands around Semporna.