The eight, including two on the wanted list for their involvement in the militant group, were arrested in a raid at a swamp near Taman Sri Arjuna in Sabah’s southwestern Beaufort district on May 8.

Following their arrests, police tracked down five other Abu Sayyaf members at the same location, who were killed in a shoot-out.

Sabah police chief Hazani Ghazali handed over the suspects to Arturo G Rojas, the joint task force commander for Tawi-Tawi in the Philippines, in international waters somewhere between the Sandakan border and Taganak in the Philippines at 8.15am today.

Also present were Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Ahmad Fuad Othman and Philippine marine brigade officer Hernanie Sungano.

Hazani said the handover went smoothly with both security forces pledging to continue their good working relationship to thwart militant activities affecting both nations.

“During the ceremony, Malaysian police also provided intelligence from the interrogations carried out (on the suspects) by the Sabah Special Branch,” he said.

He said the handover was in accordance with Section 32(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and monitored by the state immigration department.

Previously, Hazani had said one of the suspects shot dead on May 17 included a “sub-commander” of the terrorist group, known as Mabar Binda, who was on the Philippine government’s wanted list.