Rumors of impending pirate attack triggers panic in Negros village

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—About 200 residents of the seaside village of Punta Roma in Sagay City fled their homes Friday night over fears that a bunch of marauding pirates had come ashore.

The panic was triggered by rumors since Thursday night that pirates had pillaged Bantayan Island were now on their way to Sagay, said Mayor Alfredo Marañon III and Chief Inspector Edel Jose Manzano, Sagay police chief.

Manzano, who went to the area with some of his men to investigate what was happening, said the 200 residents of Sitio Punta Roma fled to the neighboring village of Old Sagay and Sagay City proper after hearing reports that the pirates had arrived aboard three pumpboats and were on a killing spree.

As the rumors had it, the pirates were inmates who escaped from the Tacloban City jail at the height of Supertyphoon Yolanda’s fury last November 8, Mendoza said.

Residents told the police they heard pumpboats approaching Punta Roma and, in the darkness, they figured there were two boats judging from the sound of the engines.

When the noise from the engines died down, more rumors spread quickly that the marauders had come ashore and were going from house to house, killing people. This terrified the residents, who fled their homes in panic, the police chief said.

Manzano explained that the fears of the residents were all based on speculation and rumor.

Word of the “pirate attack”  reached some Negrenses in Manila, who called to ask if it was true.

Manzano said the police and members of the neighborhood watch later assured the residents that they could return home and that all was safe.