RP seizes pirated vessel

RP seizes pirated vessel

MANILA (AFP): Philippine authorities seized an Indonesian-
flagged cargo ship which was hijacked off Singapore and detained
seven suspected Indonesian pirates, the coastguard said on
Monday.

The Inabukwa, which had been repainted and renamed Chugsin,
was boarded by the coastguard off the northern Philippine town of
Cabugao last Sunday, the transportation department said in a
statement.

The Indonesian embassy in Singapore had reported that the
1,170-ton vessel was boarded and seized by pirates on March 15
while transporting 432 tons of tin ingots to Singapore from the
Indonesian port of Batam.

Its original crew of 22 Indonesians were marooned on the
deserted island of Pulau Sayap and eventually rescued by local
fishermen, the statement said.

The missing ship is owned by the Indonesian firm PT Pelni
Pusat of Jakarta.