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WMC units now tracking suspects who gunned down 8 fishermen off Zamboanga City waters
By Priam F. Nepomuceno

MANILA, Jan. 10 (PNA) -- Western Mindanao Command (WMC) are now tracking down the five heavily-armed men who shot and killed eight fishermen off Laud Siromon, Barangay Dita, Zamboanga City Monday night.

The incident took place 8 p.m. WMC spokesperson Major Filemon Tan said the victims were all aboard a fishing boat, reportedly owned by one Mumar of Sangali, when the suspects arrived out of nowhere and started shooting the fishermen, killing eight before making their getaway.

He added that the seven other fishermen, dove into the water, to avoid the gunfire of the suspects, surviving in the process.

"Motive of the gunmen was said to be personal grudge between two fishing groups and another angle considered is extortion," Tan stressed.

Around 8:40 a.m. Wednesday, Barangay Sangali chair Daud Bakil appeared before the Sangali Police Station with Kervin Banahan, one of the survivors, to report the strafing incident.

The other survivors are currently on Siromon Island in Zamboanga City.

"The Joint Task Force Zamboanga is now closely looking and monitoring the developments in the area. The Marine Battalion Landing Team-11 is also currently in the area to assist the Curuan police as investigations are ongoing," Tan added. (PNA)