Policemen of Talusan Municipal Police Station backed-up by troops of the Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion confiscated a motorized pumpboat from the possession of pirates near the wharf of Talusan, Zamboanga Sibugay after a brief shootout last Saturday night.

A report reaching the Police Regional Office-9 headquarters disclosed that the police and soldiers were conducting routine seaborne patrol when two pumpboats with armed men aboard passed by. The patrol called their attention but the gunmen opened fire on them. The lawmen retaliated triggering a sea gunbattle. After a couple of minutes, one pumpboat sped away and the other was left behind.

Police suspect the gunmen aboard the boat were wounded and some may have been killed in the exchange of fire.

The pumpboat was taken by the lawmen and brought to Talusan Municipal Police Station for proper custody. Further investigation showed that the boat is owned by a certain Aberin Usman.

Police were still trying to locate Usman.