Cops: Extortion gangs behind attacks on 2 ships in Davao

DAVAO CITY — Police authorities now suspect that extortionist groups could be behind the attacks on two foreign cargo vessels here this month.

Senior Superintendent Joselito Pomperada believe that the bombings of M/V Fuji Mountain and M/V Aries Forest were the handiwork of certain groups who wanted to harass vessels that ply this city.

Unidentified armed men aboard motorboats attacked M/V Fuji Mountain, a Panamanian-registered vessel, with rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) last Oct. 11 while the vessel was moored at the wharf of the Mindanao Terminal Brokerage (Minterbro) in Bo. Ilang, Tibungco district

The incident was then followed by another attack, also using RPGs, last Oct. 22 on M/V Aries Forest, a Japanese vessel that was docked at the log pond of the Alcantara and Sons plywood firm in Barangay Lanang.

In both incidents, the attackers reportedly fled to nearby Samal Island. Both vessels sustained slight damage.

Pomperada said the bombings were not related to any labor dispute at Alsons. "The labor dispute at Alsons has nothing to do with the attacks. They were perpetrated by certain groups who were out to extort money from the ships," he said.— Edith Regalado