Pirates hijack trawler, kill 3 crewmen off Basilan Island

ISABELA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 7, 2009) – Pirates attacked a trawler, killed three of its crew and took hostage two more off Basilan island in the southern Philippines, officials said on Saturday.

“We condemn this attack and the authorities are now searching for those taken by pirates,” Al Rasheed Sakkalahul, Basilan’s deputy governor, told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said the attack occurred late Thursday. Quoting police reports, he said pirates opened fire of the fishing boat and boarded the vessel and killed three crewmen.

“We don’t know whether the two hostage are still alive or not,” Sakkalahul said.

Sakkalahul said authorities recovered the trawler, but it was apparently emptied and stripped off of important parts. He said he ordered maritime police and the marines to intensify patrols at sea following the pirate attack.

No group claimed responsibility for the hijacking, but the attacks on trawlers and fishermen are not uncommon at sea around Basilan because rebel groups such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Abu Sayyaf are actively operating in the province, just several nautical miles south of Zamboanga City.

Breakaway MILF and Abu Sayyaf factions, including former rebels from the Moro National Liberation Front, and criminal gangs are also operating in Basilan.

In January, Abu Sayyaf gunmen intercepted a small boat carrying state teachers off Zamboanga City and seized the trio and brought them by boat to Basilan. (Mindanao Examiner)

4 Fishermen Killed In Clash With Pirates In South RP

ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR (Mindanao Examiner / 19 Oct) – Four fishermen were killed by pirates in fierce gun battle at sea on Wednesday off the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur, a regional army commander said.

Four pirates were also wounded in the fighting, but escaped even before security forces could arrive, said, Brig. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, said.

“We have reports that four fishermen were killed and four pirates are wounded in the clash. Military forces are tracking down the pirates,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.

The fighting broke out at Malabago bay off the coastal village of Bibilik in Dumalinao town after a group of pirates attacked eight fishermen at around 5 a.m.

Ferrer said the fishermen were also members of the local Bantay-Dagat, a militia organization protecting the local fishermen against pirate attacks.

He said the military is closely coordinating with local village leaders and fishermen in the campaign against piracy. Many fishermen in the area have been arming themselves because of threats of pirate attacks. (Mindanao Examiner)