Fast speedboats belonging to Islamic terrorist group Abu Sayyaf are believed to be hunting for easy targets in the waters off Eastern Sabah and in the Sulu and Celebes Seas.

An urgent warning issued on Thursday by the Philippine Coast Guard via the Singapore-based Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), said five Abu Sayyaf members armed with firearms were sighted in Barangay Sipangkot, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi on board a white speedboat with yellow and orange stripes powered by a 250hp Yamaha engine.

The Philippine Coast Guard added that the group's plan was to carry out kidnapping in Sabah and Semporna, Malaysia, targeting foreigners, as well as the abduction of crew from ships passing by the Tawi-Tawi and Sabah waters.

“Ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance when transiting the waters off Eastern Sabah and in the Sulu and Celebes Seas,” the alert said.

In the past, the Abu Sayyaf group has targeted numerous small, slow-moving vessels such as fishing vessels, tugs, and small cargo launches known locally as kumpits.

In most cases, the crews were taken ashore and held until their families or the owners of the vessels paid ransoms to secure their release.

In some cases, crew members have been held for several years.

Unsuccessful attempts have also been made against larger commercial ships such as tankers and bulkers, although these have been few in number, and none resulted in any crew abductions.

In January, ReCAAP said the number of kidnapping attempts in the region had dropped significantly due to better patrolling by the Philippine and Malaysian coastguards, and better reporting of information by the littoral states.

Location of potential Abu Sayyaf activity in the Sulu and Celebes Seas. Photo: ReCAAP