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Police authorities have intensified operations against a band of sea pirates believed as those behind the strafing of a docked cargo vessel in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, on Monday night.

Sr. Supt. Abdulrakman Aplak, Sultan Kudarat police mobile group director, told reporters that the captain of MV Ramona FM of Villa Shipping was wounded and undergoing treatment at a local hospital in nearby Lebak town.

The boat which arrived from Manila and Cebu was to unload cargoes on Tuesday when gunmen on board two motorboats fired rocket propelled grenades and automatic rifles.

“The boat captain was injured in his leg when shrapnel of the grenade hit the deck at past 11:45 p.m.,” Aplak said, as he declined to identify the victim, pending ongoing police investigation.

Aplak said the boat captain had received extortion letter from still unidentified men demanding bunker fuel and protection money.

However, the captain ignored it but did not employ security personnel to guard the vessel while docked at Kalamansig port.

source: PNA