Philippines thwarts attack

Incident occurs week after Abu Sayyaf Group beheads crewman.

Philippine Forces Thwart Pirate Attack

On Tuesday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard foiled an attempted pirate attack on the cargo vessel Doña Anabelle. The attempted boarding occurred off Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte – over 50 nm to the north of the Sulu archipelago, the epicenter of recent pirate attacks in the region.

Regional police chief Billy Beltran told the Inquirer that armed fighters on two motorboats fired at the vessel off the village of Santa Maria, Siocon. Zamboanga Coast Guard Station Commander Alvin Dagale told the Philippine Sun Star that the attackers fled when military patrol vessels approached. None of the crew were injured, and the responders escorted the Anabelle for the remainder of her voyage to Zamboanga City.

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Source: maritime-executive.com