Pirate attack Phillipines ?

[Pelagic]

Latest update....centre has been stationary for last 6 hr's.

[Pelagic]

Second typhoon waiting offshore.. Not expected to make landfall

[pbmaise]

There has been another kidnapping on Mandanao. This time a local mayor and his son.

Agusan mayor, son kidnapped | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com

Again the best way to stop these is to never pay ransom and instead post big rewards that lead to convictions of the organizers.

A sample of the fall out owing to the kidnappings is an international math competition in Manila.

newsinfo.inquirer.net/732512/abductions-scare-off-math-wizards

[Pelagic]

We are now into the "crazy time"....leading up to next years national elections.

This is the time when the public and expats, hunker down and stay alert to a power struggle

http://m.thenational.ae/news/world/a...date-cast-list

http://pcij.org/blog/2013/06/11/crim...he-philippines

[PeterLIA]

To avoid risk on all out trips in and out thru southern Philippines we only ever stay in the risky areas overnight because its well known that opportunist bad guys do most of the kidnappings and hand them over to the AS group for a finders fee but they need time to plan anything.
On this current trip we left Kota Kinabalu (KK) on 3rd October after enjoying the night life there, staying overnight in the following locations on our way back to Puerto Princesa.
First night out 90 miles north we stayed the night off Pulau Balambangan at 7°17.88N 117°01.38E where we stayed on our last trip even thou during some transits we have noted it can be a bit bumpy if it's either north or south at more than 15K but both times we have stayed there it's been calm.
Second night we were going to stay in Calandorang Bay, Balabac the first Philippine Island you come across after crossing the Balabac Straight between Borneo and the Philippines. But after going ashore and finding a sleepy fishing village decided to move further towards Palawan where we overnighted in Bancal Bay on the Palawan mainland at 8°21.71N 117°13.58E a beautiful calm & quiet uninhabited area.
Third night was at Rio Tuba in the Tuba river at 8°30.08N 117°25.80E where we went ashore which is tricky because the wharf area has no easy access so we had to scramble over a bunch of bunkas to get ashore – not something you want to be doing at night coming home with a skinful, so after touring the town we stayed aboard for the evening.
There is a nickel mine at Rio Tuba that is close to the river and the 200Mtr ship loading wharf on the north side of the river entrance and I was sad to hear they use acid heap leaching to extract the Nickel and there is a lot of evidence of the acid in the river so no wonder I saw no one swimming or fishing.
The last night before getting back to Puerto Princesa (PP to the cruising world) we stayed off Rasa Island at 9°12.71N 118°25.22E.
It's a bit exposed to the south but we had good weather from the NW so a quiet night at anchor before we headed to PP arriving around 11am on Wednesday 7th October.
Since getting back to PP we have been waiting for Typhoon Koppu (Lando) to clear the Philippines before continuing north to our home Port of Subic Bay Yacht Club.
Maximum wind gusts anchored off Abanico Yacht Club was 25Knots.
North from PP we would not hesitate and often do stay in the one area for a week or more.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by pbmaise

There has been another kidnapping on Mandanao. This time a local mayor and his son.

Agusan mayor, son kidnapped | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com

Again the best way to stop these is to never pay ransom and instead post big rewards that lead to convictions of the organizers.

A sample of the fall out owing to the kidnappings is an international math competition in Manila.

newsinfo.inquirer.net/732512/abductions-scare-off-math-wizards

Trouble is, if you happen to be a kidnapped when the refusal to pay starts as as the protocol, you will be very dead.

[KatKokomo]

Originally Posted by pbmaise

There has been another kidnapping on Mandanao. This time a local mayor and his son.

Agusan mayor, son kidnapped | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com

Again the best way to stop these is to never pay ransom and instead post big rewards that lead to convictions of the organizers.

A sample of the fall out owing to the kidnappings is an international math competition in Manila.

newsinfo.inquirer.net/732512/abductions-scare-off-math-wizards

The mayor and his son were found dead this morning. Very sad

[Pelagic]

Unfortunately Political Murders, especially during campaigning time is very common.
http://www.omgfacts.com/news/12057/T...he-last-decade

[pbmaise]

There has been a new video and ransom demand. 1 billion Peso each. roughly $21mm.

see: 580 CFRA News Talk Radio :: Militants in Philippines demand ransom for kidnapped Canadians :: News - National Article

[pbmaise]

Other news of kidnappings is from Oct 28 near Bali where Faraway a 50ft cat was boarded and taken along with two around the world sailors. see

Indonesia: Two Germans kidnapped after yacht was hijacked in Strait of Lombok —

Indonesian Muslims are likely copying Filipino Muslims and expecting to raise cash too.

It is time we started posting rewards for the capture and prosecution of these outlaws that believe they can do anything to further their religion.

[Bulawayo]

I cant deny the logic.......many hostages shall perish using this method but eventually the message would sink in that taking hostages shall not bring you in a bucket load of cash but shall bring a pile of lead lined crap onto their perpetrators head.
I guess it depends if the victims are known to the person writing. If my family were involved I would prefer the less riskier option of paying. If they were strangers then there is less emotion involved. Sounds harsh but I reckon the majority of people could agree with this.
Alternatively, pay the ranson, free the hostages and then track down and eliminate the future threat.
Pay these people and we just perpetuate their actions.

Originally Posted by TomLewis

[So what do you think guys....

If we offer 20,000,000 peso for information that leads to convictions of the masterminds behind these kidnappings, and 1,000,000 per conviction of grunt workers, would the waters of the Philippines be safer?]

After spending much time in the PI, I wouldn't offer money for anything. Who would you offer it to? The government, the army, local constabulary? My fear would be creating another layer of corruption. I would rather hire a certain mercenary group to go in and extract those folks. Don't know if it would be possible, but would trust them more than the locals or gov. Maybe I'm wrong here and things have changed.

[pbmaise]

Most animals learn which potential prey are poisonous or have barbs that stick in their tongues rather quickly.

Canadians and Norwegians are rich....where is their reward money for the safe return of their citizens.
There is an outstanding $1 million reward from United States.

A few more big rewards should make these guys think twice.

[alansmith]

Maybe it is just my age, so please forgive an older mans way of thinking...avoid kidnap totally by staying away from areas that are prone to such events. No one is going to pay these guys over 20 million/person. That poor Filipina girl...

[Zven]

Originally Posted by alansmith

Maybe it is just my age, so please forgive an older mans way of thinking...avoid kidnap totally by staying away from areas that are prone to such events. No one is going to pay these guys over 20 million/person. That poor Filipina girl...

That is what the captives did. They stayed away from areas prone to such events. Samal island was considered safe before this episode.

[alansmith]

Zven, I hear what you are saying. Unfortunately, Samal is in the southern Philipines. Have you ever been to this area? I have never been south of Bacolod City. But those Filipina women will tell you that it is not safe for Western people down there. Even Filipinos are on high watch when they go south. It is not just the Abu types. There are the NPA types and the those who would kill you for 50 dollars if they got the offer.


This thread has gone on for a long time and not much else can be said except prayers for those people.