Two fishermen were injured after they were attacked by a crocodile in separate occasions in Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi.

One of them, a 60-year-old man, was checking seaweeds in Barangay Buan morning on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, when a crocodile attacked him.

He survived by hitting the crocodile with a paddle.

He sustained a wound in the arm and was brought to a hospital in Bongao town for treatment.

The other man, 53 years old, was attacked by a crocodile while spearfishing in the same area on April 1.

He survived after another fisherman helped him escape.

He sustained multiple wounds in the back, shoulder, and arms.

Personnel of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-12 (MBLT-12) provided first aid before he was brought to the hospital.

“Bigla po siyang inatake ng buwaya. Tatlong beses po syang intake…hindi po niya Nakita,” Hafiz Dionga Lee, a resident who uploaded a video of the incident, said.

After the incident, residents tried to locate the crocodile but were unsuccessful. It was spotted again in the afternoon, but residents chose to leave it alone.

According to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Panglima Sugala, Barangays Buan, Karaha, Balimbing, Dungon, Kulape, and Malacca are crocodile-infested areas.

At least four non-fatal crocodile attacks were recorded in the town from January 1 to April 2, 2025.

MDRRMO said a crocodile-catching training is set to be conducted in the town.

“Nag-coordinate na rin kami ng MENRE and fortunately, darating yung grupo ng trainors from Philippine Biodiversity, magka-conduct ng training doon sa Brgy. Buan, or mismo sa mga crocodile-infested barangay,” MDRRM Officer, Sarimar Atara, said.