MORO pirates snatched a fishing boat off the waters of Zamboanga Sibugay over the weekend but later released its eight crew members after the boat owner paid P30,000, the police said.

Felicisimo Khu, director of the Philippine National Police Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Western Mindanao, said the pirates, headed by a certain Samang Andi, seized the boat while it was fishing near Muyong Island, Malangas, on Saturday.

The pirates later steered the boat to the shoreline of barangay Takling, Malangas, where they kept its eight crew members, including its operator Ronie Bermoy, and demanded P30,000 for their release.

The boat is owned by Jerome Sayde of Zamboanga City.

Khu said several hours after the incident, the pirates released the boat’s crew after the owner paid the demanded amount.

Khu said they are pursuing Andi and his men.