ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Four crewmen of a cargo ship were captured by gunmen believed to be Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan few hours after 2 Malaysians were rescued on Thursday, March 23.
Zamboanga Coast Guard Station Commander Alvin Dagalea identified two of the four victims as Aurelio Agacac and Laurencio Tiro, both a crew of Super Shuttle Roro 9 that plies the Cebu to General Santos route and vice-versa.
Dagalea said the incident took place around 12:20 p.m. Thursday near Sibago Island, Mohammad Ajul, Basilan.
He said Super Shuttle Roro 9 was transiting at 26 nautical miles east of Matangal, Basilan and 19 nautical miles of Sibago Island when intercepted by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits aboard three speed boats.
The speed boats sped towards mainland Basilan province.
The coast guard deployed a gunboat to provide assistance to the besieged cargo vessel which is now idle drifting towards Sibago Island, Mohammad Ajul, Basilan.
Troops have been alerted to locate the whereabouts of the victims. (SunStar Philippines)
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