Troops pursue pirates in Zambo Sibugay

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 29): Troops pursue pirates in Zambo Sibugay

Government troops are scouring the sea of Zamboanga del Sur for the five pirates they engaged in a firefight on Monday. Army’s 1st Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III said on Tuesday the troops were scouring Barangay Bacao, Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay, where the pirates have fled following the encounter at sea.

Cruz said the pirates were led by Kiyang Balimbingan, whose group was responsible for a series of atrocities at the provincial waters of Zamboanga del Sur and Sibugay. Cruz said the troops from the Army’s 44th Infantry Battalion were conducting seaborne patrol when they clashed with the group of Balimbingan at 10 a.m. Monday near the shore of Barangay Talanusa, Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur.

Some of the pirates who fled to Barangay Bacao, Malangas were believed to have been wounded, Cruz said. This as the motorized banca they have abandoned at the shore of Barangay Bacao have bloodstains, Cruz said.

Meanwhile, Cruz has ordered his troops to intensify the conduct of seaborne patrol to ensure the protection of the people particularly the marginal fishermen.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=491977