8 fishermen killed in pirate attack

8 fishermen killed in pirate attack

PHILIPPINES: Eight fishermen were killed in an attack by pirates
off a southern Philippine island, an army official said on
Sunday.

The fishermen were aboard three motorboats off Basilan island
province, 900 kilometers south of Manila, on Saturday when gunmen
opened fire at them, said army Col. Bonifacio Ramos.

Two fishermen survived the attack by playing dead as the
pirates stripped their boats of the powerful motors, Ramos said.

The survivors - 52-year-old Jingking Sali and 11-year-old
Bangah Tanih - later swam for hours until they reached the
coastal town of Lantawan in Basilan and sought help.

"Many of my companions were hit in the body with bullets and
they fell to the sea," Sali told army officials. --DPA