RP hunts kidnappers of three seamen

RP hunts kidnappers of three seamen

PHILIPPINES: Naval forces have been sent to track down pirates who kidnapped three crewmen of a Malaysian tugboat and are believed to have fled to the southernmost Philippine islands, officials said on Thursday.

"Our naval units are checking the islands" of the Tawi-tawi archipelago said Commodore Rufino Lopez, chief of regional naval forces in the southern Philippines.

The navy identified the three Indonesian hostages as tugboat captain Ahmad Rumiyati, 33, Yamin Labusu and Erekson Hutagul. They were seized when five rifle-wielding pirates boarded their vessel, the Bonggaya 91, off Malaysia's Sabah state on Wednesday.

Lopez said the pirates, who are believed to be Filipinos, took their hostages on a speedboat toward Tawi-tawi.

"The Philippine navy is coordinating with the Malaysian police regarding the incident," said navy spokesman Captain Geronimo Malaban. -- AFP