8 killed in pirate attack

Eight Filipino fishermen were killed after at least five suspected pirates boarded a fishing boat in southern Philippine waters and strafed the crew, officials said Tuesday.

Seven other fishermen survived Monday night’s attack in waters near southern Zamboanga City by jumping off the vessel as the gunmen started shooting and swimming toward an island, said Lt. Commander Alvin Dagalea.

Dagalea, commander of the Coast Guard station in Zamboanga on Mindanao island, said some of the survivors were rescued by a passing motorboat while others were found on the nearby Island. Their boat, riddled with holes, sank.

Dagalea said in a telephone interview that the men were on a fishing trip when the armed men approached on another boat and then boarded their vessel and ordered them to go to the bow area.

“Then suddenly the armed men strafed them,” he said.

He said the unidentified gunmen could be pirates, while a military report said the motives being looked into include extortion or a grudge between fishing groups.

The Western Mindanao Command ( WMC) has launched a manhunt against the five suspected pirates.

WMC spokesperson Major Filemon Tan said the incident took place at 8 p.m. Monday off Laud Siromon, Barangay Dita, Zamboanga City.

“Motive of the gunmen was said to be personal grudge between two fishing groups and another angle considered is extortion,” Tan said.

Around 8:40 a.m. Wednesday, Barangay Sangali chair Daud Bakil appeared before the Sangali Police Station with Kervin Banahan, one of the survivors, to report the strafing incident. The other survivors were brought to Siromon Island in Zamboanga City.

“The Joint Task Force Zamboanga is now closely looking and monitoring the developments in the area. The Marine Battalion Landing Team-11 is also currently in the area to assist the Curuan police as investigations are ongoing,” Tan added. /