Three Maguindanaon fishermen, Esmael Mohammad, Gerald Mohammad, and Oscar Arpa, were shot dead by gunmen aboard a watercraft while at sea near Barangay Kabingaan in Tapul town, Sulu, on August 23. The attackers used assault rifles and 40 millimeter grenade projectiles, destroying the fishermen’s pumpboat. The victims’ bodies were recovered by a Maritime police team in the territorial waters of Barangay Sulari in Parang, Sulu. One companion, Muktar Muhammad, was rescued, while another, John Mohammad, is still being searched for. The police are investigating the incident and have sought help from local officials in identifying the group behind the attack. The victims were from Milbuk, a beachfront barangay in Palimbang town, Sultan Kudarat province, and were deep-sea fishing when they were attacked.
