Abu Sayyaf terrorists are believed to have been behind the raid on a Vietnamese bulker this morning and the subsequent kidnapping of six crew. The 5,610 dwt bulker Royal 16, owned by Quysang Trading Shipping, was transiting near the southern Philippine island of Basilian when it was stormed by armed men this morning.
, owned by Quysang Trading Shipping, was transiting near the southern Philippine island of Basilian when it was stormed by armed men this morning.Two crewmembers, one of whom was wounded, escaped and were rescued by a local cargo ship in the area, authorities added.
The Kuala Lumpur-based Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) warned earlier this week that slow moving ships with low freeboard should reroute away from the southern Philippines, if possible, as attacks in the area spike.
I don’t feel at all good for having predicted this.
The Abu Sayyaf having discovered that piracy, which some of their Tausug members have been carrying out for many years but with the poor and harmless Badjao as their victims, is much more remunerative when directed against merchant ships, they will do this again, and again, and again.
if the Governments of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines start talking about “Sovereignty” , the AS will be even happier.