Suspected ASG kidnapping off Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) reportedly kidnapped four crew members of a fishing vessel while it was at the Celebes Sea near Sulu, Monday.

Armed Forces of the Philippines - Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) Spokesman Maj. Filemon I Tan, Jr., identified the missing crew members as Noel Besconde, the captain; Reyjim Rocabo, the Marine Diesel Mechanic (MDM); and crew members Roy Ramos and Roel Liones, residents of Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur.

They were the crew of FB Ramona 2, which was also ransacked by their abductors of its VHF radio and Global Positioning System (GPS).

FB Ramona 2 is a service-type vessel owned by Ramona Fishing Corporation.

Tan said FB Melissa 2, sister ship of FB Ramona 2, had the last contact with the ill-fated vessel at 3 a.m. Monday, with the latter’s crew saying that they were in the vicinity of Celebes Sea near Sulu.

The area is notorious for being among the open waters where the ASG had conducted abductions in the past.

Tan said FB Melissa 2 promptly proceeded to the location of her sister ship at around 5 a.m., but all its crew members missing. The VHF Radio and GPS were also missing while other belongings were intact.

Joint Task Force Sulu has already deployed forces to conduct a search, while Naval Task Group Sulu has also adopted appropriate measures to immediately locate the victims.

Joint Task Forces Tawi-Tawi and Basilan were also alerted to conduct patrols near the coastal areas of the provinces and intensify their intelligence gathering.