15 Filipino fishermen shot dead

PHOTO

Police in the Philippines are hunting for those responsible for a deadly attack on 15 fishermen. [ABC]

Last Updated: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:59:00 +1100

Gunmen have killed 15 Philippine fishermen and wounded three others in a sea attack by suspected local rivals.

The fishermen were killed by men armed with assault rifles off the insurgency-torn southern island of Basilan on Monday, regional military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Randolph Cabangbang said.

"They (victims) were fishing on another group's turf," Cabangbang said.

He said the authorities had ruled out the potential involvement of Islamist militants or Muslim guerrillas, who are also active in Basilan.

Police have identified several suspects and arrests are expected shortly, Cabangbang said, adding that a military unit was ordered to provide security for police investigators.

"The suspects are heavily armed," he added.

The victims were all residents of the southern city of Pagadian, about 160 kms to the northeast, and were attacked as soon as their three boats approached the tiny island of Sibago, off Basilan's east coast.

Other fishermen in the area later discovered the shooting and took the three wounded victims to hospital, Cabangbang said.

The bodies of the 15 dead fishermen were taken back to Pagadian, he added.