Chinese tourist Gau Huayun and Filipino hotel receptionist Marcy Dayawan are believed to have been brought in a jungle in southern Philippines after being taken from a Malaysian resort on 2 April, unnamed Philippine security officials said on Friday.  

The officials told The Associated Press that the intelligence reports and information gleaned from villagers indicated that the Abu Sayyaf gunmen have taken the two women to Sulu. 

Like Us on Facebook

The militants have been using the predominantly Muslim region as a holding place for foreign and Filipino hostages.

The 28-year-old Shanghai native and 40-year-old receptionist were kidnapped from the Singamata Reef Resort in Sabah, Malaysia. The two victims were then transported via motor boat to Sulu, which is just a short boat ride away from Sabah.

According to marine spokesperson Captain Ryan Lacuesta, the government forces in Sulu will launch a new search. No other details were provided.

Two weeks ago, the kidnappers asked for a ransom of PHP500 million (around US $11.3 million) in exchange of the Gau, said Ahmad Zahid Hamid, the Home Minister of Malaysia. 

As for the Filipino receptionist, the Abu Sayyaf had issued no demands for her freedom, he added.

Meanwhile, the police forces of Malaysia have been partnering with the Philippine police to address this latest kidnap-for-ransom staged by Abu Sayyaf in Malaysia. 

In November, the suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels killed a Taiwanese tourist from another resort in Sabah. The victim's wife was kidnapped and held for a month. She was later set free in Sulu.

The militant group had ties with Al-Qaida and other similar groups in other countries. 

However, when the Philippines launched a US-backed crackdown on the group, it had lost much of its power in the last few years. 

Abu Sayyaf, which has 300 armed fighters, is currently on the terror groups list of the US. The militant group has now shifted its focus from global jihad to ransom kidnappings.