PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines -- Fourteen Vietnamese fishermen were arrested Friday afternoon by members of the City government's enforcement arm Bantay Dagat and PNP Maritime while fishing in Philippine waters some 20 kilometers north of Puerto Princesa City.

Colonel Roland Barbosa, officer in charge of PNP Maritime Palawan, said the Vietnamese were on board the fishing boat FB QNQ 95869 and anchored off Chicken Island when accosted by the enforcement team.

"We are conducting an inventory of the boat and preparing charges of poaching and illegal entry," Barbosa said.

An interpreter for the Vietnamese told authorities the fishermen were claiming they ran out of supplies and were forced to enter Philippine waters.

Initial reports from members of the enforcement team indicated that the Vietnamese had been fishing in the area for some time before their presence was reported by local fishermen to the authorities.