Vietnamese killed, 6 seized in Tawi-Tawi pirate attack

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Gunmen attacked a Vietnamese cargo vessel in the waters off Tawi-Tawi, killing a crewmember and seizing six others on Sunday night.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the military said the M/V Giang Hai was sailing near Pearl Bank and Taganak Island when gunmen on a speedboat blocked its way.

The vessel reportedly came from Indonesia and was headed for Iloilo.

PCG spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo said the gunmen shot and killed one of the crewmembers and escaped, taking with them six hostages.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command, confirmed the incident, saying fishermen spotted the Giang Hai drifting near Turtle Island at around 8 a.m. yesterday.

Petinglay said members of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 8 responded to the scene and rescued 10 Vietnamese sailors.

The body of the fatality was recovered from the vessel. 

Fishing vessels towed the Giang Hai to Taganak.

Petinglay said government security forces in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu were ordered to be on the lookout for the kidnappers.

PCG officer-in-charge Commodore Joel Garcia said a notice to mariners would be issued to ships passing in the area.

The PCG launched a pursuit operation against the pirates.

Petinglay said they could not yet ascertain whether the Abu Sayyaf was behind the attack.

The incident brings to 12 the number of Vietnamese kidnapped in Philippine waters.

In November, the bandit group seized six Vietnamese sailors near Basilan.