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.