Philippine troops have rescued three Malaysians held captive by Abu Sayyaf rebels, the military said on Monday (March 27), the second such operation in four days as security forces step up offensives against the notorious Islamist group.

The three men were kidnapped from a ship eight months ago and their rescue means no other Malaysians are currently held hostage as two others were rescued at sea last week.

The military said the three Malaysians were rescued on Jolo island in the southern Philippines on Sunday (March 26) but gave no details of the operation.

Abu Sayyaf has its roots in separatism but engages mostly in banditry. It has proven a formidable opponent for the Philippine military, with its small, agile and well-equipped network entrenched in the jungles of two southern islands, from which they prey on slow cargo boats.