Pirates kill 8 fishermen in southern Philippines

Pirates kill 8 fishermen in southern Philippines

January 11, 2017
Members of the Philippine Coast Guard inspect the almost sunken fishing boat of Filipino fishermen who were killed by suspected pirates in waters near Zamboanga City, southern Philippines, on Tuesday. — AP
Members of the Philippine Coast Guard inspect the almost sunken fishing boat of Filipino fishermen who were killed by suspected pirates in waters near Zamboanga City, southern Philippines, on Tuesday. — AP

MANILA — Eight Filipino fishermen were fatally shot by at least five suspected pirates who boarded their boat in the southern Philippines, officials said on Tuesday.

Seven other crewmembers survived the attack on Monday night in waters near Zamboanga City by jumping off the boat and swimming away when the attackers began tying up their colleagues, said Commodore Joel Garcia, head of the Philippine Coast Guard.

“According to the initial investigation, (the attackers) were on board a boat and they were all armed,” he said. “They immediately tied up eight of the crewmen, and the seven others were able to jump out and survive.”

Coast guard spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said a Filipino fishing boat with 15 crew on board was operating off Laud Siromon island near the Zamboanga peninsula on Monday night when five armed men on a speed boat attacked them.

“The attackers opened fire at the fishermen,” Balilo said.

Two of the survivors reached land and reported the massacre to a village leader, who alerted the coast guard.


January 11, 2017
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