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Eight Abu Sayyaf bandits whose leaders were involved in cross-border kidnappings of foreigners have surrendered in Luuk, Sulu.

KOTA KINABALU: Twenty-three years ago, a little known southern Philippines-based militant group called Abu Sayyaf made international headlines when it grabbed 21 international tourists and resort workers from the diving haven of Pulau Sipadan.

Philippine police killed the suspects while searching for a man wanted in a police superintendent’s slaying.

Seven men with alleged links to the Abu Sayyaf bandit group were killed while two others were arrested following an encounter in Parang, Sulu before dawn yesterday.

The waters between the Philippines, and Malaysia and Indonesia are prone to abductions and piracy. The three countries have agreed to jointly patrol these waters and to cooperate to secure the important shipping route that passes through it. Follow this thread for updates on incidents near the country's porous maritime boundary.