Turtle poachers nabbed

MANILA, Philippines -  Marines and police arrested six Chinese on board a speedboat after they were caught carrying an undetermined number of sea turtles off the coast of Palawan Thursday afternoon.

Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban of the Armed Forces Western Command (Wescom) yesterday confirmed the arrest of the six and they are still validating reports that the group came from Hainan province in China.

The Chinese are now under the custody of Palawan police as appropriate charges are being readied against them, he added.

Marines and police in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) intercepted the Chinese vessel northwest of Ramos Island in Balabac at about 5:30 p.m., Sabban said.

When boarded and inspected, the speedboat powered by three 60 horsepower Yamaha engines, yielded sophisticated navigation and communication equipment to include the Global Positioning System and an Ultra High Frequency radio.

The vessel was also found to be laden with fishing nets, compressor and other fishing paraphernalia.

The area where the Chinese were arrested was within Palawan waters and far from the disputed Spratly Islands, Sabban said.