Coast Guard arrests 24 Chinese fishermen off Palawan

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday it has recently arrested 24 Chinese fishermen, who were caught poaching off the waters of southwestern Palawan.

Operatives of Coast Guard Detachment in Palawan (CGDP) said all 24 aliens, including a woman, are now detained at the Palawan provincial jail as authorities prepare to file charges against them at the local court.

The Chinese’ vessel Kwok Thai Mai was also confiscated and impounded at the Puerto Princesa seaport.

In his report, CGDP commander Lieutenant Alucibetho Piodo said his men spotted last Saturday the Chinese vessel off Balabac town at the southern tip of the island. He said the vessel was ordered to stop for inspection but it sped off, prompting a 30-minute chase.

Piodo said they recovered from the vessel some 500 kilograms of dalagang bukid, small sharks and mameng, a local fish that had been declared as an endangered specie.

Paciano Guianan, officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), said the test showed that most of the catch were caught through dynamite fishing.

Further investigation also showed that the Chinese fishermen, who reportedly do not speak or understand English, threw their identification papers into the sea during the chase.

Coast Guard officials said they were set to file charges of poaching and illegal entry against the aliens.

If convicted, they could face a two-year term in jail and pay a fine of up to $100,000 before they are deported, added Piodo.

The PCG official said they have already notified the Chinese Embassy about the arrest.

Frequent arrests of Chinese poachers off Palawan in recent years prompted the creation of a special multi-agency committee to handle their cases to avoid straining Manila’s diplomatic ties with Beijing.