Officials say police are searching for a Malaysian fish trader who was abducted in a southern Philippine region where al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf militants are active.
Gov. Sadikul Sahali said Sunday that Pang Choon Pong traveled to Tawi Tawi province about two weeks ago for business and was abducted by armed men who took him away in a speedboat.
Tawi Tawi police officer Aminkadra Idjilani says the fish trader screamed for help as he was abducted but a Filipino companion was unable to do anything because the kidnappers were heavily armed.
Pang was initially misidentified as a Chinese.
Sahali said a crisis committee is dealing with the abduction.
Abu Sayyaf gunmen currently hold another Malaysian, an Indian and a Japanese on nearby Jolo Island.