Manila investigates kidnap of fishermen

Manila investigates kidnap of fishermen

MANILA (Reuter): President Fidel Ramos yesterday ordered an investigation into the alleged abduction by a group of Malaysians of seven Filipinos they suspected of stealing their boat engines.

Ramos directed the ministers of defense, foreign affairs and interior "to look into and take appropriate actions" on the matter, a presidential palace statement said.

The statement, quoting police sources, said a vessel carrying several Malaysians docked at a village on Palawan island in the southwestern Philippines on April 14. The Malaysians loaded six fishermen and a 10-year-old boy onto several motorboats and took them to Kudat, Malaysia, where they were being detained.

It said the vessel "...closely resembled (a) Malaysian naval patrol craft" and described the raiders as "alleged Malaysian navy officials".

Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said reports he received from Palawan officials showed the Malaysian action was "in reprisal" for the stealing by Filipinos of boat engines belonging to villagers on the Malaysian island of Barque.