Gunmen in southern Philippine waters killed one crewman of a Vietnamese vessel and abducted seven in what appeared to be the latest attack by pirates in the area, the Philippine coastguard said on Monday.
Coastguard and marine soldiers rescued 17 Vietnamese who were part of the 25-man crew of MV Giang Hai, which was attacked on Sunday evening near Baguan Island in Tawi-Tawi, an area close to the stronghold of the notorious Abu Sayyaf militant group.
An investigation was underway and the coastguard had launched a pursuit in coordination with the military and police, said coastguard spokesman Commander Armand Balilo.
Well armed and equipped with fast boats and high-tech navigation devices, the Abu Sayyaf is a stubborn problem for the Philippine military, which has failed to curtail piracy and kidnappings in the area, despite major troop deployments in the in the Sulu Archipelago.
The Islamic State-linked group has been involved in frequent acts of piracy and has beheaded captives when ransom demands have not been met.
Before the latest attack, the militants were holding 27 hostages, according to a tally of reports about kidnappings and a few releases.
The captives are Indonesian, Malaysian and Vietnamese seamen, as well as Filipinos, a Dutchman, a German and a Japanese national.
A surge in piracy off parts of the Philippines is forcing ship-owners to divert vessels through other waters, pushing up costs and shipping times.
President Rodrigo Duterte said last month he had asked China for help in the fight against the militants by sending ships to patrol the dangerous waters.
And we see an American carrier fleet on a "freedom" of navigation sail.
If China will help with anti piracy effort that will greatly help the piracy issue. Navies of China, Israel, Russia and Singapore are tough with pirates and have eliminated Somali pirates and pirates know they must respect the Chinese navy.
What a joke when you have an Armada profess to keep navigation free but not able to prevent repeated kidnap happening under their armpit. Wrong priority from the wrong people.
Yes, the 55 year old aircraft carrier the Carl Vinson is reportedly in the area to remind everyone that the US Navy insists on the freedom to sail wherever she wishes. The US wants for the world to return to the way it was in the 20th Century. We are in denial!
A relatively unknown fact is that the Chinese Navy suppressed the Somalian pirates. So they would be very experienced