Malacañang to step into case of 122 Sino fishermen

Malacañang is stepping into the case of 122 detained Chinese poachers in the light of the visit of Chinese Premier Li Peng, head of the National People’s Congress of China, on Sept. 12 to 15.

"We know that this is a serious concern that has to be addressed immediately," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

"We don’t have any official stand on this yet. We will check with the President," he added.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez has rejected the proposal of Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople for the grant of clemency to the 122 Chinese fishermen.

Perez said Ople inquired about the status of the cases against the Chinese nationals and asked if releasing them could be possible in the light of Li Peng’s visit.

Senators Francis Pangilinan, Noli de Castro and Manuel Villar have sent Perez three Senate resolutions calling for the poachers’ prosecution. They echoed the sentiments of non-government groups.

Ople has reportedly changed his stand, instead asking the justice department to expedite the cases against the Chinese fishermen, pending in the Puerto Princesa City courts, so the grant of executive clemency can be endorsed to President Arroyo as diplomatic goodwill.

This developed as Chinese Ambassador Wang Chung Gui met with Perez yesterday, and sounded off Beijing’s intention to pay the poachers’ fine but wanted the amount — $100,000 — reduced.

"We have agreed to reduce the fine to $50,000 for all the six vessels," Perez said.

But Wang, he said, insisted that the sum be further lowered, although he did not say to how much.

"He did not give us any price or ceiling," said chief state prosecutor Jovencito Zuño whom Perez left to talk with Wang after the President summoned him to Malacañang.

Under Philippine laws, poaching is punishable with a maximum fine of $100,000 and the seizure of the fishing vessel. Illegal possession of endangered species like turtles, is punishable by six to two years’ imprisonment.

Perez said Wang was amenable to a P2,000 fine for each of the 122 fishermen but did not agree to the $50,000 fine for the six seized fishing vessels.

The 122 poachers were among 136 Chinese nationals arrested by the Philippine Navy in Palawan waters from January to May this year. Fourteen of them, all minors, were subsequently released.