Pirates kill 1, abduct 6 in Sulu

A crew member of a Vietnamese vessel was killed while six others were abducted by suspected pirates off the waters of Sulu province on Sunday night, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Monday.

Cmdr. Armand Balilo, PCG spokesperson, said the armed men attacked MV Giang Hai, a Vietnamese flag vessel manned by 17 crew members, 17 nautical miles north of Pearl Bank in Sulu at 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Balilo said PCG personnel saved 10 Vietnamese crew members after the abandoned vessel drifted near Baguan Island in Tawi-tawi.

The PCG said the vessel came from Indonesia and was carrying bags of cement bound for Iloilo province.

Balilo said the PCG was informed by the Vietnamese Coast Guard about the incident, prompting the PCG station in Taganak, Tawi-tawi to launch a rescue operation.

“The PCG has issued a notice to Mariners and has organized a pursuit operation in coordination with the military and police units in the area,” Balilo said.

The bandit group Abu Sayyaf is known to operate in the area of Sulu, but authorities have not yet identified the group behind the attack.—WITH A REPORT FROM REUTERS