The MV Royal 16 was sailing less than 20 kilometres from Basilan island, a stronghold of Abu Sayyaf militants, when it was attacked on Friday morning. In recent months, the Abu Sayyaf has been accused of kidnapping dozens of Indonesian and Malaysian sailors in waters off the southern Philippines. On the weekend an Abu Sayyaf commander claimed responsibility for abducting a 70-year-old German sailor and murdering his wife. Abu Sayyaf militants this year beheaded two Canadian hostages after demands for millions of dollars were not met. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has launched a military offensive to "destroy" the Abu Sayyaf.

Source: Bangkok Post November 11, 2016 08:45 UTC