Villagers find dead bodies in abandoned boat

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Island villagers discovered an abandoned pump boat carrying two dead bodies off an island in Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay believed to have been slain Saturday, police said.

Authorities said the pump boat loaded with dead bodies was found by fishermen floating near Isla Bato around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Police Officer 2 Edmon Jumalon, case investigator of Malangas Police Station, disclosed that the two victims were traced to be aquamarine traders who had gone missing.

The victims were later identified as Ramil Dela Cruz and Reneboy Duran, both of legal age and residents of Vincenzo Sagon town, Zamboanga del Sur.

Investigation reports found that the victims left Vincenzo Sagon on board their motorized boat to head to Malangas to deliver and sell their lobster catch Saturday morning.

The victims reportedly left Malangas on board the same watercraft about 10 a.m. that same day. However, unidentified armed marauders on board on another pump boat intercepted the victims and sprayed them with bullets.

The suspects took the victims' profits and sped off toward an unknown direction, leaving the lifeless bodies of the victims in the watercraft floating near an island.