AFP still verifying Abu Sayyaf’s hand in kidnap of Vietnamese sailors

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 14): AFP still verifying Abu Sayyaf’s hand in kidnap of Vietnamese sailors

No group still claiming responsibility, military says

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is still verifying whether or not the Abu Sayyaf Group were behind the abduction of six Vietnamese in the waters off Sibago island in Basilan on Friday, November 11.

Basilan Map
(Photo courtesy of Google maps | Manila Bulletin)

Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesman, disclosed they have yet to establish Abu Sayyaf’s complicity since no group yet has come forward or claimed responsibility.

“It’s hard to say if indeed they are behind it. There is always that possibility that another group might be behind it,” Padilla said.

But Padilla stressed efforts have been made to immediately locate their whereabouts.

Earlier, authorities managed to receive information from Lai Minh Kao, a crew member of the Vietnamese boat Royal 16, which was attacked by at least 10 armed men while traveling from Vietnam to Davao at around 5:00 a.m. Friday.

The ship was carrying a load of cement when the seajacking occurred, according to a report.

The AFP Western Mindanao Command said Lai is now recuperating at a hospital here after he was shot by the attackers.

He identified those who were taken by the armed men:

• Pham Min Tuan, the ship captain
• Do Trung Hieu, crew member
• Hoang Vo, crew member
• Tran Khac Dung, crew member
• Huang Trung Thong, crew member
• Huang Van Haim, crew member

Zamboanga City Coast Guard Station Commander Jerome Cayabyab earlier said they received a call from the ship captain of container ship M/V Lorcon-Ilo-Ilo, informing them of a distressed ship they sighted near Sibago Island.

Cayabyab said they immediately responded to the call, and tracked down the Vietnam-flagged ship.

http://news.mb.com.ph/2016/11/14/afp-still-verifying-abu-sayyafs-hand-in-kidnap-of-vietnamese-sailors/