Palace: Search ongoing to find Filipina, Chinese tourist kidnapped in Sabah

MANILA, Philippines - The government on Saturday said Philippine security forces are conducting search and rescue operations in Mindanao after a Filipina resort worker and a Chinese tourist were kidnapped by gunmen in Sabah, Malaysia.

"According to the AFP, patuloy po ang best efforts natin for search and rescue doon sa probable areas in BASULTA kung saan allegedly dinala daw po 'yung dalawa mula sa Sabah,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview.

Valte said the Armed Forces of the Philippines is conducting an extensive search and naval blockade in the area to look for suspicious seacrafts. She added that the West Mindanao Command in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi has already been alerted to help in the search. The government said bandits kidnapped tourists and fishermen in the area and brought them to the Philippines.

The Malaysian government said the kidnapping, which took place on Wednesday, may be meant to further damage the relations between Malaysia and China, which was strained by the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 with Chinese passengers on board.