Remains of 8 executed Badjao fishermen found

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Villagers and authorities recovered the remains of eight fishermen, who were executed by suspected pirates and were missing for 10 days, separately along the seas of the coastal village and island east of this city, according to police and officials.

The police said the victims were among the 11 local sea gypsies known as Badjao of the Muslim tribe in this southern port city who were executed by pirates on Christmas day.

The victims, all residents of Barangay Sangali in this city,  were on their way to a fishing venture on board their three motorized bancas in the waters off Talusan and Payao towns in Zamboanga Sibugay province when they were intercepted and executed aboard their fishing vessels.

Two of the victims survived the carnage and reported the execution staged by the pirate.

Police Officer 3 Arnel Sogradiel, team leader of the community police action center (COMPAC) station in Barangay Manicahan, said fishermen on board their banca spotted an outrigger banca that was half submerged and drifting off the waters of sitio Fisherman’s Village about 4 p.m. Friday.

According to Sogradiel, the fishermen approached to check on the seacraft and discovered the  remains of the six victims inside the outrigger.

The fishermen tagged and towed the outrigger with the victims on it toward the shoreline of sitio Fisherman’s Village at Barangay Manicahan.

Sogradiel said the cadavers, including a minor, all tied and bore bullet wounds,  were already in the state of decomposition.

“The victims were all tied and believed to be victims of execution,” Sogradiel said.

Remains  of two other victims were also recovered inside a drifting outrigger at the shore of Barangay Busay in Sacol Island, an island just across Manicahan Saturday morning.

Police said villagers also recovered the other day a cadaver in the adjacent coastal village of Bolong. The cadaver was among the executed victims.

The police and village officials said the two remains were among the missing companions of the recovered victims.

Sangali barangay chairman Daud Kalil said the remains, which were positively identified by their surviving families, will be buried along the shore.

Meanwhile, authorities continued to coordinate with the survivors of the carnage to hunt the pirate group that has been attacking the local fisher folks in the area.