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       #Post#: 89--------------------------------------------------
       Gunman kills 15 in Southern Philippines
   DIR By: DilynLopez
       Date: January 24, 2012, 1:52 am
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       Why do parts of Mindanao have to be so violent?  :( :( :(
       Source:
  HTML http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16695544
  HTML http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16695544
       At least 15 men were killed in the southern Philippines when
       gunmen opened fire on three boats, in what military officials
       say was fishing turf rivalry.
       The incident happened on Monday off Basilan province, a
       stronghold of Muslim rebels.
       Three other men were wounded in the incident.
       Police have identified several suspects involved but no-one has
       been arrested yet.
       "They (the victims) were fishing on another group's turf,"
       regional military spokesman Lt Col Randolph Cabangbang told the
       Agence France Presse news agency.
       He added that the possibility of Islamist militants being
       involved in the incident had so far been ruled out.
       Police say that about 10 attackers are suspected of involvement
       in the incident.
       The fishermen were aboard three wooden vessels off Sibago island
       in Basilan when gunmen in speedboats opened fire.
       The shooting was discovered by other fishermen in the area. The
       victims were residents of Pagadian city, 160km (100 miles)
       north-east of Basilan.
       A survivor reportedly told police that they had been warned to
       stay away from the area where the attack took place.
       According to the BBC's Kate McGeown, there are more than a
       million unlicensed firearms in the Philippines - one for every
       40 civilians - and the tally is likely to be much higher in a
       place like Basilan.
       The Basilan region is used as a base by Islamist militants and
       rebel groups in the predominantly Christian nation.
       It is also a hotspot for kidnap-for-ransom groups, with
       foreigners often the target.
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