15 Fishermen Gunned Down in the Philippines

At least 15 fishermen were killed in the southern Philippines on Tuesday after gunmen opened fire on them in what officials say could be a developing rivalry over fishing spots, according to local reports.

“They were strafed by armed men who were on-board three small boats off Sibago Island which is still part of Mohd Ajul town in Basilan,” Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang told the Mindanao Examiner.

Cabangbang added that “three survived the attack, but they are all seriously wounded,” according to the newspaper. Most of those who were killed or injured were from Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province.

A local military head ordered soldiers to track down the assailants. “There is an operation to track down the attackers, who could also be fishermen. This attack could be connected to a turf war,” Cabangbang added.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, who is the director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police force, told the Manila Bulletin that his office “learned about this when another group of fishermen passed by the area.”

“They were the ones who picked up the 15 dead fishermen and rescued the three others,” Latang added.

According to AFP, Cabangbang later said the slain fishermen “were fishing on another group’s turf,” adding that Islamist militants were likely not involved. Police told the news agency that approximately 10 gunmen were involved in the attack.