Pirate attack Phillipines ?

[Gone2long]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

President Duterte has been facing political opposition over his plan to form an international coalition (including China) to patrol Philippine waters and fight these Raiders.

I think this incident will help him to achieve more support

Definitely a tough job to try to get the Vietnamese, Malays, Chinese, Americans and Australians all on the same page. However, interesting to note that while Trump was claiming to send the Carl Vinson Battle Group to NK, they were actually headed for joint exercises w. Australia in the straits between E.Sabah and the PHL, right where those Vietnamese coal ships had been pirated.

Also, heard that the annual "regatta" down to Indo from Malaysia (forgot the name, but you folks will know it) received a Malay escort in that same area. Moral of the story is that Duterte's efforts are definitely bearing fruit.

No politics, just facts and a bit of relevant scuttlebutt : )

G2l

[Gone2long]

PS - Intended to head south to Leyte, when the Maute group bombed the town I wanted to anchor off. Consequently, I decided to take a less direct route and visit to Bohol instead; then the ASG decided to move there. Maybe I'll just the safer route, via Subic : )

[dannc]

Originally Posted by Gone2long

Correction - Was an American missionary couple (the Burnhams - check my spelling), in Honda Bay, just south of Puerta Princessa. That was an isolated incident, as was the attack in Samal, in the sense that they were both far from the ASG traditional southern haunts. Neither event was indicative of any "trend" to move north, but perhaps they were indicators that the ASG was bound to stray further from its traditional sphere of influence.

G2L

The German couple I referenced where kidnapped in April 2014 off Palawan.

Philippines, Palawan, Rio Tubbataha: German couple abducted from yacht - April 2014 —

It would be interesting to see information about the couple you mentioned.

Just this month, the kidnapping operation by the Moros was stopped in Bohol. Reports said the group was looking to kidnap foreigners on Bohol and Cebu.

According to this report, 3 more Abu Sayyaf members killed in nighttime encounter in Bohol | ABS-CBN News, authorities had reason to believe that Palawan was a target as well Bohol and Cebu.

These areas are north of where the Moros usually operate.

Later,
Dan

[Pelagic]

I think this is a really troubling development.

As pressure increases in Syria, IS appears to be setting up a 2nd front in Mindanao

http://gcaptain.com/lawless-waters-t...islamic-state/

[Gone2long]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

I think this is a really troubling development.

As pressure increases in Syria, IS appears to be setting up a 2nd front in Mindanao

Lawless Waters Test Southeast Asian Nations in Fight Against Islamic State – gCaptain

Worrying, yes, but no problems from Butuan, north right now. Ramadan half over, which may or may not be a harbinger of fiuture events.

G2L