Tawi-Tawi

Mobin Sahibudin Hailil (alias Apo Kahumbo) 44 years old was shot dead by Philippine security forces on Friday 29 August 2014.

Apo Kahumbo was one of the masterminds in cross-border kidnappings in the east coast of Sabah.
There are several kidnap-for-ransom groups targeting the east cost of Sabah. All are lying low and waiting for appropriate times to strike.

Hailil (alias Kahumbo) was arrested by police authorities in Tawi-Tawi Island on August 26, 2014, had died after trying to wrestle a gun from a security personnel.

He was reportedly involved in at least one deadly raid in Sabah, Malaysia. Hailil was being brought back to the Tawi-Tawi provincial jail in Bongao town when he suddenly tried to wrestle the gun of a escort around 11 a.m. on Friday.

Hailil (alias Kahumbo) being the Abu Sayyaf’s “navigator,” was instrumental in transferring kidnap victims from Malaysia to Philippines. Hailil reportedly took part in the July 12, 2014 raid on a Malaysian diving resort at Mabul Island. During that raid a Malaysian policeman was killed while another one was kidnapped and transferred to Sulu Island in Philippines.

"The abduction threat in Semporna, Kunak and Lahad Datu is still there as the main group in southern Philippines has yet to be eliminated....The Muktadil brothers are believe is behind most of the recent kidnappings in Sabah's east coast."" a Malaysian intelligence source said in August 2014

There are 6 brothers in the Muktadil family. On Aug 23, 2014 Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abd Rahman identified two of them :
1- Nilson Muktadil, in his 30s,
2- Badong, in his 40s.

Badong, the leader of the Muktadil brothers, is said to be a protégé (follower) of Mobin Sahibudin Hailil, known as Mobin Sahibudin Hailil (alias Apo Kahumbo).

Hailil (alias Kahumbo) was shot dead by Philippine security forces on Friday 29 August 2014, within 72 hours of his arrest in what was suspected to be a "black operation" to prevent his eventual release.

Mobin Sahibudin Hailil (alias Apo Kahumbo) was arrested for illegally possessing a .45 Colt handgun loaded with six bullets and an MK2 grenade at a checkpoint at Sanga-Sanga village on Tuesday 26 August 2014. He was killed when he purportedly tried to escape while being escorted under heavy guard after a court appearance in Bongao, the administrative capital of Tawi-Tawi islands in southern Philippines.

The death of Kahumbo might "reduce to a certain extent" the kidnapping threat from southern Philippines. But impossible to reduce the threat to zero. There are other kidnap-for-ransom groups which are more aggressive than him. Copycat groups could emerge due to the lucrative ransoms received for hostages snatched from Sabah.

Intelligence sources believe three gangs were supporting each other to carry out cross-border kidnappings:
1- Kahumbo's gang
2- Muktadil brothers
3- Anjang-Anjang group

Kahumbo's role was to transport hostages to Jolo island and hand them over to the Abu Sayyaf group.

Hostages taken from Sabah are considered to be of higher value than Filipinos kidnapped in southern Philippines,

The two Malaysians – Konstable Zakiah Aleip, 26, who was abducted in Pulau Mabul on July 12, 2014, and Chan Sai Chuin, 32, from a fish farm at Kampung Sapang in Kunak on June 16, 2014 are now being held in Jolo island by Abu Sayyaf sub-commander Alhabsi Misaya.

Tawi-Tawi Seeks To Partner Sabah In Business

KOTA KINABALU, June 6 (Bernama) -- Tawi-Tawi, an island province in the southern Philippines, is seeking to make Sabah a business partner in order to boost its economy.

"We envy you and we wish to learn from you. We want your partnership and involvement in making Tawi-Tawi like Sandakan or Tawau or even Kota Kinabalu," Governor Nurbert Sahali said in a statement here Friday.

Sahali said his recent trip to Sabah, with which Tawi-Tawi shares sea borders, showed the province's willingness and sincerity in wanting to seriously engage with the state government.

He expressed hope that with the support of the respective governments and facilitation of the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) mechanism, the business sector would take the initiative.

"We will do our part in ensuring our compliance with the legal and institutional requirements.

"We will (also) ensure the security and safety of Sabah businessmen doing business in Tawi-Tawi," he said.

Sahali proposed that open lines of official communication be established between the Sabah Chief Minister's Department and the Office of the Provincial Governor of Tawi-Tawi, with focal persons assigned to maintain communication.

"I also wish to propose for the identification of business organisations or companies -- those with the interest, capability and determination -- whom we will recognise, protect and support in trade and commerce between Sabah and Tawi-Tawi," he said.

Sahali said separate venues or activities should be set up to address specific issues such as illegal immigrants, cross-border criminality and security.

The governor also extended an invitation to Sabah's business chambers to the first Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) International Business Conference in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi on June 17-18.

-- BERNAMA