UNIDENTIFIED armed men abducted six crew members of a Vietnamese vessel off Basilan on Friday, the military's Western Mindanao Command reported.
Wesmincom spokesman Major Filemon Tan said the vessel, bulk carrier MV Royal 16, was en route to Davao when intercepted at 5:00 am in the vicinity of Coco Island.
Tan said the incident was initially reported through radio by a Filipino vessel, MV Lorcon Iloilo.
Tan said MV Lorcon Iloilo informed the Coast Guard at around 7:00 am about the foreign vessel in distress.
He said the Filipino vessel was advised by the Coast Guard to render assistance to MV Royal 16.
Found at the foreign ship were two crew members, one of them was the wounded fourth engineer.
Tan said the fourth engineer told the captain of MV Lorcon Iloilo that their vessel was boarded by around 10 armed men and abducted six crew members, including the captain, chief mate, and second officer.
"Reportedly, the ship was boarded by unidentified number of armed men. Reportedly, six crew members were abducted and the kidnappers headed towards unknown direction onboard speedboat, said Tan.
"Sea and Naval assets already deployed to search and rescue the said kidnap victims," Tan added.
Tan could not immediately say the nationality or nationalities of the kidnap victims. He said the foreign ship was told to proceed to Zamboanga City.
Asked if the suspects are from the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, Tan said they have no information about it yet.
"They're just armed men based on the report. No group has also claimed it," he said.
The Abu Sayyaf is holding over a dozen of foreign and Filipino hostages, including a 70-year-old German whose yacht was intercepted off Sabah past November 5. His wife was recovered dead and naked and at the yacht that was abandoned in Pangutaran town in Sulu. (VR/Sunnex)