Navy, Coastguard thwart hijacking off Zamboanga del Norte

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 18): Navy, Coastguard thwart hijacking off Zamboanga del Norte

Government security forces on Tuesday thwarted the hijacking of a cargo vessel by pirates in the waters off Zamboanga del Norte.

Reports from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said cargo vessel M/V Dona Anabelle was waylaid by gunmen aboard two motorboats at around 6:30 a.m. in the high seas of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.

Lt. Commander Alvin Dagalea, local PCG chief, said the attack was foiled as PCG and Navy vessels promptly responded to the distress call of the merchant ship.

The gunmen sped off upon seeing the arriving maritime security forces.

Dagalea said no one was reported killed or injured during the incident.

He said the cargo vessel continued its voyage to this city escorted by Navy and PCG ships.

Maritime security has been beefed up in the waters off Zamboanga and Sulu and in Celebes Sea following the string of hijacking incidents perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf Group.

The Abu Sayyaf bandits are still holding 27 hostages, most of whom were seized in the high seas. Most of the hostages are foreign sailors.

Last week, the Abu Sayyaf bandits executed Noel Besconde, a boat captain, after his family failed to pay the bandits’ ransom demand.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=980744

Government troops are still searching for the body of Besconde, who was abducted along with three other crewmen in December 2016 in the Celebes Sea.