MANILA, Philippines ? Seventeen Malabon City fishermen on three fishing boats have been held hostage by armed men since dawn Thursday in the high seas off Tawi-Tawi.

Marie Gutierrez, an executive assistant of the Malabon City-based Irma Fishing and Trading, said a company liaison officer was conducting negotiations with Taganak Island Mayor Omar Khan. She refused to name the negotiator ?for security reasons.?

Gutierrez said at least 10 heavily-armed men on board a speedboat and two motorized ?kumpit? (bancas) attacked and seized the fishing boats around 4:10 a.m. on Thursday some 20 nautical miles off Taganak Island in Tawi-Tawi.

Taganak is about 220 nautical miles from Zamboanga City.

In a letter to Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. asking the Armed Forces of the Philippines for help in resolving the case, a company representative said the men were ?allegedly under Mayor Omar Khan? of Taganak.

But Nelson Victorino, Teodoro?s spokesperson, told the Inquirer that the secretary had not yet received the letter.

However, Victorino gave the assurance that Teodoro ?would be supportive of any efforts? for the fishermen?s release.

In Zamboanga City, Rear Adm. Emilio Marayag Jr., Naval Forces Western Mindanao commander, said the details about the reported hostage-taking incident were still very hazy.

He added, however, they had already been informed that a fishing boat was being held ?by certain elements? in Taganak.

Marayag said the owner of the fishing boat had not coordinated with them. ?So how could we get clear information?? he added.

Based on the ?hazy information? from Tawi-Tawi, Marayag said the boat was being held ?by a group led by a certain Omar Khan.?

?The most we can do is to conduct monitoring activities,? Marayag added. ?Para tayong naghahanap ng isang karayom sa dayami? (It?s like looking for a needle in a haystack).

From information sent by the crew before communication lines were cut off, the armed men?s speedboat was marked Jarmai Air Asia 3019/4F, Gutierrez said. The two kumpit were unmarked, she added.

Edibert Gomotod of the Special Cafgu Active Auxiliary (SCAA), the armed escort of the fishing boats, was shot and killed by suspected pirates, according to the Irma Fishing and Trading official.

She identified the seized fishing boats as F/B Alyss V, F/B Starshine, F/B Tomiya.

The armed men failed to board the fourth boat, F/B Robert Raymond, when Gomotod fired a warning shot, Gutierrez added. The armed men shot Gomotod, killing him instantly.

Based on the boats? global positioning system (GPS), the vessels are anchored near Taganak Island, said Gutierrez.

On Jan. 1, 2007 at least 50 fishing crewmembers of the same fishing company were also held hostage for 24 hours by armed men.

They were later rescued by the Philippine Navy in the high seas of Tawi-Tawi.