The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Monday said that pursuit operations are currently being conducted to track down a group of still unidentified armed men who reportedly abducted seven crew members of a Vietnamese vessel near Baguan Island, Taganak, Tawi-Tawi, Sunday night.
Captain Jo-Ann D. Petinglay, Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) spokesperson said a team from the Philippine Marines is currently assisting the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in finding seven crew members of the Vietnanese flag vessel MV Giang Hai.
Reports disclosed that the piracy attack happened at about 7:10 p.m. Sunday at vicinity 17 nautical miles North of Pearl Bank which then drifted near Baguan Island, Taganak.
Petinglay said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) assigned in Turtle Island received information from local fishermen that the cargo vessel MV Giang Hai was seajacked by unidentified armed men and was sighted within the vicinity of Baguan, Turtle Island, Tawi-Tawi.
The vessel reportedly has a total of 25 crew members, seven of which were abducted by the armed group and one was reported killed.
Petinglay said Philippine Marines stationed in the area together with the PCG and Philippine National Police (PNP) Taganak immediately organized and conducted Joint Law Enforcement Operations to rescue/recover said vessel.
“We confirmed receiving a report about the reported seajacking incident and efforts are being made to locate the whereabouts of the victims,” Petinglay said during an interview.
Petinglay said they are still gathering more information if suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits or other local terrorist groups were behind the incident. (FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD)