Stiffer penalties vs foreign poachers sought

MANILA, Philippines - The approval of legislative measures seeking to impose stiffer penalties against foreign poachers would be pushed in the incoming 16th Congress, an administration lawmaker said yesterday.

Kalinga party-list Rep. Abigail Faye Ferriol cited the increasing intrusions of foreign vessels into the country’s waters to fish and harvest other marine resources like endangered corals and turtles.

Relations between the Philippines and Taiwan remain tense following the killing of a suspected Taiwanese poacher by the coast guard last month.

“Poaching in Philippine waters by foreigners has been a perennial problem in the country. Reports of foreign vessels caught by the naval authorities periodically form part of the news,” Ferriol said.

She said these incursions are often accompanied by plunder of the country’s natural resources and the severity of this problem was exposed in several instances when a vast collection of corals and other marine species was seized by the authorities.

“Foreigners were also arrested for illegal possession endangered marine species in the Southern Philippines,” Ferriol said.

She said she would re-introduce House Bill 5430, which amends the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 or Republic Act 8550 by imposing a fine of $100,000 and a jail term of 12 years to foreigners found guilty of poaching. She filed the same bill in the 15th Congress.

She said the illegal activity of foreign nationals in Philippine waters must be addressed and the implementation of stricter penalties in the form of imprisonment should complement RA 8550.

The bill provides that foreigners charged with poaching shall not be released unless all fines are fully paid.

Ferriol said there is a need for stricter penalty to emphasize that it is unlawful for foreign persons, corporations or entities to fish or operate fishing vessels in Philippine waters.

The fisheries code states that the entry of any foreign fishing vessel in Philippine waters shall constitute prima facie evidence that the vessel is engaged in fishing in Philippine waters.

Aside from the imposition of $100,000 and a 12-year jail term on violators, government authorities can confiscate their catch, fishing equipment and fishing vessel.

The violators may also face an administrative fine of not less than $50,000 but not more than $200,000 or its equivalent in Philippine currency.