18 Chinese fishing boats take shelter in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Eighteen Chinese fishing boats took shelter in Basilan on Monday during the onslaught of Typhoon Ruby, officials said yesterday.

Rear Admiral Reynaldo Yoma, chief of Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), said the 18 fishing boats were spotted off Langhil Island off the coastal island town of Muhammad Adjul.

A government team from the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Bureau of Immigration were immediately dispatched to question the 248 Chinese fishermen on their presence in Philippine waters.

Yoma said the team found the Chinese fishermen committed no violation, noting their fleet of fishing vessels was empty of catch.

Yoma said initial investigation revealed that the Chinese fishing vessels came from Indonesian waters and were proceeding to the South China Sea when they decided to seek shelter due to Typhoon Ruby.

“Based on their pre-plotted course in their maps they just want to seek shelter here while the typhoon is battering the parts of the country,” Yoma said.

Westmincon commander Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero and Yoma said Navy gunboats stayed with the stranded Chinese fishermen throughout their stay in Basilan to protect them against being kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf.

“These are foreigners within our area. Our task is to secure our maritime environment for both Filipinos and foreigners and we know that it’s not quite a friendly area out there,” Capt. Giovanni Bacordo said.

The Coast Guard added the Chinese fishermen did not go ashore and stayed in their boats.

The military’s Joint Task Force hunting down the Abu Sayyaf initially monitored the Chinese fishing fleet in Langhil Island.

Bacordo said they were subsequently allowed to leave after their papers were found to be in order.

“And they even have in their possession the note verbale from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Their entry was a result of force majeure,” Bacordo said.

The Chinese embassy had made inquiries with the Coast Guard about the status of the fishermen.

“I informed the Chinese embassy that concerned government agencies were already investigating the incident,” Coast Guard spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said.

The (DFA) said the Chinese fishermen were only passing through.

“It is their right to seek shelter due to force majeure,” Yoma added.  – With Jaime Laude, Evelyn Macairan