The attack on a Malaysian tugboat near Sabah on the island of Borneo and abduction of three crew members by Abu Sayyaf guerrillas indicates that the criminal group remains active in the Sulu Sea and the waters between the Philippines and Malaysian Borneo remain dangerous. Philippine forces have killed or captured most of the group’s leaders and reduced Abu Sayyaf’s numbers to about 400 from a high of 5,000, but they remain a threat. Travel to this area should be avoided.
