Search for slain fishers continue off Basilan province

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 25, 2012) – Security forces on Wednesday continued searching for the bodies of 11 crewmen of three fishing boats attacked by gunmen off the southern Philippine province of Basilan, officials said.

Officials said the naval patrol boats were also dispatched to help in the search off Sibago Islands where gunmen on three small boats strafed the fishing boats on Monday.

“The search is continuing and we have deployed four speedboats and one navy ship to search for the bodies,” said Colonel Ricardo Visaya, commander of military forces in Basilan province.

Unidentified gunmen attacked the fishing boats and killed 15 people. Three of the boats 18 crewmen were seriously wounded in the strafing believed connected to turf war.

The attack was allegedly carried out by local fishermen, who earlier warned the crew of the fishing boats to stay away from their ground, according to Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command.

“They were strafed by armed men who were onboard three small boats off Sibago Island which is still part of Mohd Ajul town in Basilan. The gunmen killed 15 fishermen and three survived the attack, but they are all seriously wounded,” he said, adding only four bodies had been recovered since Monday.

Cabangbang said the victims were mostly from Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province where they are based, but sailed to the troubled province Basilan on three boats – Palakaya 1, 2 and 3 – to catch fish.

The bodies of the slain fishermen – Ronald Buhian, Leonido Tamparong, Kenneth Castillo and Wilmar Lunsol – were brought back to Pagadian City.

Western Mindanao military chief Major General Noel Coballes has ordered troops to track down the assailants, Cabangbang said.

No individual or group claimed responsibility for the attacks. (Ely Dumaboc)