Palace prevents shipwreck looting

President Arroyo ordered yesterday a stop to treasure hunting in waters off Zambales.

Recently, hundreds of pieces of artifacts believed to be from a Chinese vessel that sunk in the South China Sea 500 years ago have mysteriously surfaced in antique shops in Sta. Cruz town.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao told reporters yesterday Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Avelino Cruz met last Monday with National Museum Director Fr. Gabriel Casal and Coast Guard officials after reports of the looting reached Malacañang.

"The agreement reached in that meeting is that no one should be diving there in the area," Tiglao said. "Cease and desist for any diving."

Tiglao said the National Museum has contracted a private firm to conduct excavations at the archaelogical site to determine the presence of artifacts.

"And any retrieval of any artifacts will be strictly prohibited," he said. "First of all, the procedure is to map the site, mark it, then photograph before any artifact could be retrieved. So artifacts in the possession of anybody is considered illegally retrieved."

National Museum officials learned that deep sea divers out to make a fast buck have looted the wreckage of a Chinese junk off Isla Hermana Menor.

The vessel is believed to contain priceless jars and blue and white dishes from ancient China.

National Museum officials said concerned residents have reported intensive diving activities at the site, especially at night.

However, local Coast Guard commander Pedro Gonzales denied that his men were among those looting the ancient vessels.

Coast Guard divers have gone to the site to document it with grip maps and photographs and not loot the wreckage, he added. – Marichu Villanueva