JONG CADION
Senior reporter
Labangan, Zambosur—A firefight that lasted for seven minutes ensued between elements of 31ZS CAA Company of the 5th IB and three armed men, believed to be pirates, on board a pumpboat, along the high seas of Vincenzo Sagun, this province.
Reports culled from the 1st IB “Tabak” Division headquarters and from Lt. Col. Ramon Florece, 5th IB commanding officer, said that on the side of the government were the troops led by Sgt. Alfredo Husayan, who was first fired upon by the said pirates.
The armed men, supposedly doing their illegal fishing in the area, then retreated in the south-west direction, leaving behing 24 bottles of dynamites.
No casualty was reported as a result of the encounter.
Major Samuel Gayongorsa, 53rd IB battalion commander, then ordered his troops to heighten seaborne patrols.
In Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, combined elements of 14th Division Reconnaissance Company under 2nd Lieutenant Mark Soriano and P/SInsp. Ariel Huesca of the Ipil Municipal Police Station confiscated three fishing boats reportedly used for illegal fishing activities.
The boats and their operators violated fishery laws by fishing in the municipal waters of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay.
The owner of the boats were identified as Nora Jainuddin while its crew were named as Ray Clemente, Benjie Arcelan, Arman Bacio Eler Escoltor, Edmar Gulang, Richard Bawisan and Jovanie Toburan.
Another fishing owned by a certain Marilon Habulla of Brgy Bangkerohan was held by authorities, with its crew identified as Reynante Ayohan, Hernando Delicano, Reynante Ortez and Ronald Collado.
The third fishing boat was owned held was manned by Dante Matuquina, Arnold Rodaza, Rommel Bernos, and Toto Lim.
Major General Nehemias Pajarito lauded the efforts of the troopers in going after the illegal fishing activities in the said area.
“The Philippine Army, together with the Philippine Navy, give our full support to the PNP in Zamboanga del Sur and Sibugay in securing its coastal towns and weeding out pirates and illegal fishers, including extortionists who roam our seas,” Pajarito said.