Unidentified gunmen abducted the captain and two crewmen of a tugboat in the southern Philippines, the coast guard said Sunday, according to dpa. The gunmen were aboard three pump boats when they approached the MT Marinero off Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte province, 810 kilometres south of Manila, late Saturday. Commodore Rodolfo Isonera, a regional coast guard commander, said the suspects then forcibly boarded the Marinero. He identified the hostages as Captain Feliper Miranda, chief mate Cecelio Layasan and chief engineer Radsie Magtanong. Isonera said the gunmen also took the crew"s personal belongings, including radio and mobile phones, as well as food supplies. Police said the tugboat"s other crew members reported the incident to authorities. The coast guard has launched search and rescue operations. It alerted all boats in the area to take precautionary measures and report any suspicious movement of vessels.
