Inclusion of Sibago Island in list of critical areas mulled

MANILA, Philippines - To avert a repeat of the hijacking of a Vietnamese bulk carrier, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) plans to include Sibago Island in Lamitan, Basilan in its list of critical areas where foreign vessels will be escorted by sea marshals.

PCG Zamboanga Station head Commander Jerome Cayabyab said yesterday the PCG and the Philippine Navy (PN) have long been providing escorts to foreign ships passing through critical areas in Mindanao, but Sibago Island was not part of such areas.

Cayabyab, who was only assigned in Zamboanga last Monday, said members of the PCG’s Special Operations Group and the Naval Special Operations Group, also known as the Navy elite force Seal that specializes in sea, air and land operations, are often tapped to act as sea marshals.

“To my knowledge, this is the first time that a seajacking of a foreign vessel has taken place in Sibago Island. But with the abduction of six officials and crew of the M/V Royal 16 last Friday morning, I might recommend that it be included in the list of critical areas,” said Cayabyab.

“I might suggest that foreign vessels using these sea lanes strictly comply and alert the authorities in the area because the sea is so vast and they have to coordinate with law enforcers for their own safety,” he added.

The Coast Guard official said they are still conducting an investigation of the hijacking of the 2,999- gross-ton M/V Royal 16, which was traveling from Vietnam to Davao on Friday.

Armed men reportedly shot and wounded Vietnamese Dham Yan Trong, a ship electrician, when he tried to escape. Trong is now confined in a hospital in Zambaonga City. 

The Armed Forces identified the six kidnapped victims as Pham Mnh Tuan, boat captain; Do Trung Hieu, chief mate; Hoang Vo, second mate; Tran Khac Dung, third mate; Hoang Trung Thong, boatswain’s mate; Hoang Va Hai, an apprentice boatswain’s mate.

 The other crewmen of the ship who escaped from their captors were Nguyen Quy Hau-Ce, Nguyen Sy Nga, Hoang Ngoc Thanh, Phu Van Quyet, Vu Va Cuong, Ha Van Lam, Du Quy Dat, Nguyen Quang Huy, Luu Din Manh, Bui Manh Tien and Tran Van Thanh.

They are now onboard their vessel anchored in Paseo del Mar, Zamboanga City.

Caybayab said the PCG would finalize an updated list of critical areas and give it to shipping lines and ship officers for them to be cautious when getting near or going to dangerous places.

‘Still in the dark’

Meanwhile, government authorities are still in the dark on the fate of the six Vietnamese sailors abducted off Basilan by bandits believed to be from the Abu Sayaff group.

Armed Forces public affairs office spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo said they have not yet received any information on the whereabouts of the victims. – With Jaime Laude, Roel Pareno