MANILA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Armed bandits raided two cargo vessels in southern Philippines Monday night, wounding two sailors on board, local media reported Tuesday.

    Col. Julieto Ando, a Philippine Army spokesman, said gunmen on board the pump boats off the coasts of Sultan Kudarat province strafed and fired a grenade launcher at two cargo vessels at around 11:30 p.m. Monday night.

    According to local news network ABS-CBN News, a chief engineer and his apprentice on the cargo vessels were hit by shrapnel from an M79 grenade launcher.

    The military official said the gunmen were members of an extortion group, the ABS-CBN News said.