13 Vietnamese fishers nabbed for poaching
By Redempto Anda
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 16:59:00 09/01/2008
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—Thirteen Vietnamese fishers are in the custody of the Philippine Navy in the northwestern Palawan town of El Nido after being arrested for poaching and illegal entry on Friday near Cabulawan Island, Linapacan, the military said Monday.
Western Command spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Amerigo Fabrigar told media the Vietnamese were arrested by the Joint Task Force Malampaya's PG 380 patrol gunboat following a 30-minute chase. Some 101 sea turtles among the assorted fish were confiscated by the arresting unit.
Fabrigar said Wescom was still awaiting a full report on the incident including the identification of the Vietnamese involved.
The foreign vessel, Fabrigar explained, was being towed from Linapacan to El Nido as of this posting.
Charges of violation of Section 87 of RA 8550, or poaching, and illegal entry were being readied against the Vietnamese nationals, he said. The Vietnamese vessel was identified in the military report as "having Bow 91234 TS."
Fabrigar said that according to a radio report, the Vietnamese nationals tried to sink their own vessel after they were intercepted by the Navy gunboat.
"They had removed the drain plug in the engine room apparently to try to sink their vessel. Navy personnel used a submersible pump to drain the water. Maybe they were thinking of justifying their presence in Philippine waters by claiming they had boat damage," Fabrigar said.
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