Taiwanese poacher arrested in Batanes

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested a Taiwanese fisherman whom they allegedly caught poaching in the country’s territorial waters in Batanes on Tuesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday.

Tsai Po, 54, of Pintung, Taiwan, was arrested by the members of the Batanes police and the Bantay Dagat during a seaborne patrol near Ditarem Island in Itbayat town, according to PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo.

Tsai’s arrest came nearly four months since the killing of an alleged Taiwanese poacher by PCG men in Balintang Channel in May.

Reports said that authorities were conducting patrol at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday when they spotted a Taiwanese fishing boat marked TR-PT 3512.

The team found Tsai alone in the boat, which was said to be between five to seven meters long.

Balilo said except for fishing equipment, no fish or other marine species were found on the boat.

Tsai was held at the Batanes police jail, while the boat was towed to the Basco Seaport pending investigation.

“The report said there was only one Taiwanese fisherman, but we are looking at the possibility that there was more than one fishing boat or they have a mother ship,” Balilo said.

He said if reports were true that Tsai was caught in Ditarem Island, the Taiwanese was encroaching in Philippine territory.

Victor de Sagon of the provincial police told AFP Tsai was among a group of men who were illegally fishing just off Siayan Island.

“They have been doing this for a long time. This is rampant poaching,” said De Sagon adding that Tsai was diving for lobsters near the maritime border with Taiwan.

He said Tsai would be charged with poaching, which is punishable by a $100,000 fine, confiscation of his catch, fishing equipment and fishing vessel.

De Sagon denied claims by Taiwanese press that the suspect had been treated roughly.

“We are not violating his rights. He is being fed well, he underwent a medical check-up, and he is in regular contact with his wife and the Taiwanese representative office in Manila,” De Sagon said.

In a phone interview, Tsai told AFP that he did not understand why he was detained, as he does not speak English.

He claimed he was in Taiwanese waters when taken into custody by people “who were in plain clothes and acted like pirates.”

“I was handcuffed and asked to kneel on the floor of my boat for many hours and three or four persons pointed guns at me. I was scared and my feet, waist and hands ached. I hope I can go home soon,” he said.

Officials at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), which represents Taiwan’s interests in the Philippines, could not be reached for comment. 

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is set to report the incident to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), which would coordinate with the TECO.

Balilo said after the shooting to death of a 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman on May 9, there had been alleged sightings of Taiwanese fishing boats entering Philippine waters although these had not been documented. – With AFP, Jack Castano