ZAMBOANGA CITY: The police and the military are tracking down at least 23 people, mostly Abu Sayyaf members, identified and wanted by Malaysian authorities for a string of kidnappings for ransom and attacks at sea off Sabah.

Six of them, with warrants of arrest issued by the courts in the Philippines, along with 15 others are being pursued in the hinterlands of Sulu and Basilan provinces, the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said.