Suspected Abu Sayyaf kidnap 2 Chinese nationals in S Philippines

Suspected members of terrorist group Abu Sayyaf kidnapped a Chinese businesswoman and her daughter in southern Philippines on Thursday night, a police official said Friday.

Police Chief Superintendent Albert Larubis said the victims, Dina Lim Iraham, 45, and her daughter Yahong Lim Tan, 19, were snatched from their karaoke bar in Isabela City, Basilan province.

Larubis said witnesses disclosed that about 10 heavily-armed men wearing camouflage went inside the bar and seized the victims at gunpoint at 9:35 p.m., Thursday.

The suspects then dragged the victims towards the wharf where they boarded a twin-engine pump boat which sped towards Malamawi Island.

Government security forces have already launched a pursuit operation to locate the suspects and their victims.