PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—Malacañang has ordered the return to Vietnam of seven modern commercial fishing vessels that were ordered seized by a Philippine court after it tried and convicted in August a large group of Vietnamese for poaching.
A copy of the “deed of conveyance,” signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Vu Tu and obtained by the Inquirer yesterday, said the “donation” was being made by the Philippine government “in consideration of the close cordial diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Vietnam.”
Malacañang has transmitted the agreement to the provincial government of Palawan and to the Armed Forces’ Western Command (Wescom) who were earlier granted joint custody of the vessels following the conviction and release of 122 Vietnamese poachers caught by Wescom on May 31.
The deed of conveyance, which described the Philippine government as “donor” and the Vietnamese government as “donee,” was signed on Oct. 25.
Malacañang’s decision did not sit well with capitol officials, while the Wescom expressed grudging acceptance of the order.
“We have yet to take custody of the vessels. We were overtaken by the national government exercising its ownership of the vessels. Our beneficial custody was rendered moot. We have informed the court,” Gov. Abraham Kahlil Mitra told the Inquirer yesterday.
Wescom spokesperson Maj. Neil Estrella said the command has no option but to heed Ochoa’s order.
“We are not privy to whatever considerations the national government took into account in giving the vessels back to the Vietnamese. We can only say that we will continue to arrest those who violate our sovereignty,” Estrella said.
The 122 Vietnamese nationals were caught for poaching in the southern Palawan town of Balabac and were convicted by the Regional Trial Court Branch 51 and fined for $700,000.
The seven fishing vessels that they used, equipped with the latest and high-end navigational and communications equipment, were ordered confiscated in favor of the provincial government.
The Vietnamese, however, pleaded for deportation without paying the fines. They were also allowed to dodge a P6.1-million fine for illegal entry imposed by the Bureau of Immigration.