Rescued fisherman admits killing boat captain 

COTABATO CITY – A fisherman adrift off the coast of Maguindanao for 24 hours was rescued after he stabbed to death a fishing boat captain.

Police Lt. Pasigan Abas, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao police chief said Bonifacio Rabe, 43, a resident of Marlian, Zamboanga del Sur, was rescued by crewmen of another fishing vessel off the coast of Datu Blah Sinsuat.

Tired, hungry and still wearing his life vest, Rabe told the police he had been at sea for more than 24 hours.

The fishing boat  MV RRV-3 was found drifting off Bongo Island in Parang, Maguindanao with the remains of the vessel’s skipper, Jeoffrey Pagnete.  (Photo courtesy of Parang, Maguindanao police) 

When questioned, Rabe said he is a crewmember of MV RRV-3, a light fishing boat.

He admitted stabbing to death the vessel’s skipper, Jeofrey Pagnete, 31, of Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur.

Rabe told investigators that they were on their way back to Pagadian City when the vessel encountered engine trouble.

Rabe said a heated argument ensued between him and Pagnete while they were fixing the engine, which led to the stabbing incident.

He said he jumped overboard to evade arrest and prosecution, but his conscience bothered him.

The Maguindanao maritime police found the disabled fishing vessel and the remains of the slain captain near Bongo Island in Parang, Maguindanao at dawn Wednesday.

Staff Sergeant Faidzal Sendad, maritime police investigator, said authorities were trying to reach out to the families of Rabe and Pagnete and the fishing boat’s owner.

Rabe is currently detained at the Parang municipal police station while a local funeral parlor attended to the remains of Pagnete.

The fishing vessel was towed to Parang port. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)