A shooting in the waters off Tapul, Sulu resulted in the deaths of three fishermen on Saturday. One escaped, while another is still missing.
The deceased were identified as Esmael Mohammad, Gerald Mohammad, and Oscar Arpa from Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat. Their companion, Muktar Mohammad, survived after hiding behind fish boxes and nets. The search for another fisherman, John Mohammad, is still ongoing.
The Maritime Police found the bodies near the shore of Barangay Sulari in Parang, Sulu. The shooting occurred while the group was sailing in the area of Barangay Kabignaan, Tapul, when the men suddenly attacked aboard a junkong or Malaysian-style boat.
A search and rescue operation is currently underway to find the missing fisherman and identify the perpetrators of the incident.
