7 Chinese poachers arrested in Palawan

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities caught seven Chinese nationals illegally trawling in the waters of Palawan last April 7, the global conservation group World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) reported yesterday.

The “poachers” were accosted by a composite team of the Municipal Environmental Desk Officer (MEDO) and the Joint Task Force Malampaya (JTFM), according to Gregg Yan, information, education and communications officer of WWF-Philippines.

The speedboat was apprehended around 9:30 p.m. on Holy Tuesday near Cawayan Island, off the northern part of Palawan.

The seven fishermen were caught with 13 dead green sea turtles and a live green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) struggling in the fishers’ nets, according to Yan.

The live turtle was quickly tagged and released by the staff of the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area Office (ENTMR-PAO).

Yan said that authorities also found fishing paraphernalia, including a five-kilometer long net, aboard the unmarked watercraft.

WWF-Philippines identified the poachers as Lu Chong, Huang Chia Phong, Seo Mu, Lu Cheng, Young Huo Pao, Li Pang Yao and Tan Sia Fong. They will be charged with violating the Philippine Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act (Republic Act 9147), and could face penalties of a fine of up to P1 million and a six-year jail term.         - Katherine Adraneda