CG ready to intercept if Chinese ship flees

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy are ready to intercept the Chinese-flagged bulk carrier M/V Ming Yuan should it try to escape from Philippine waters.

Cebu Coast Guard Commander Weniel Azcuna said they are monitoring ship as well as its 24 crew members 24 hours a day.

The ship is docked at Tapilon Point in Daanbantayn town, where the PCG Central Visayas operates a detachment.

"If ever Ming Yuan will depart, we can assist in intercepting the ship from going out of the Philippine waters. But I don't think pasagdan ni sila (the ship and the crew)," Azcuna said.

Azcuna said that the consul from the Chinese embassy visited his office since they are worried of the safety and security of the crew.

 "They visited our office since they are worried of the safety and security of the crew of the M/V Ming Yuan. However, we assured the consul that we will ensure the safety of the crew," Azcuna said.

The commander said that they do not have grounds to detain the vessel since they are only in charge of the safety. They are still waiting for the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine to issue seizure and detention order and Azcuna said that the PCG personnel are willing to assist.

However, they already advised Romeo Bujawe of PHILHUA Shipping Agency, which is the local agent of the ship, to settle the penalties so that the ship's operations will not be delayed.

The Bureau of Customs will formally serve the warrant today to the captain of M/V Ming Yuan.

"Upon serving the warrant tomorrow (today), we will wait kung anong sagot niya (captain). Kung may local shipping agent sila dito sa Cebu, sa kanila namin ibibigay," said Edward Dela Cuesta, BOC Port of Cebu District collector.

Since the BOC has no area for ships, Dela Cuesta said that they will ask the Philippine Coast Guard to have the ship docked in their detachment area.

In 2001, the M/V Great Faith, which was anchored off Mandaue City, disappeared from port during Christmas Day with 40,000 sacks of smuggled rice and is still missing until now.

The ship arrived in Cebu from Vietnam in September 2001 and was apprehended by the Bureau of Customs and was issued with a warrant of seizure and detention.

Over P2M in fines

The M/V Minn Yuan and its crew, who are all Chinese nationals, are expected to pay a fine of more than two million pesos to the Bureau of Immigration and Bureau of Quarantine.

Immigration officer Rey Cuizon, bay service section officer-in-charge, said that they obliged the captain or the ship's agent PHILHUA Shipping Agency, to submit a notice to explain today why the crew also have no seaman's visas.

Cuizon said each crew member must pay an administrative fine of P50,000 and another P6,500 for the ship due to not informing the authorities within 24 hours of its arrival. Over P1.2 million is expected to be paid to the BI.

Cuizon said that he was able to talk to Bujawe and informed the latter that it will be the agency that will pay for it.

He added that once the fines will not be settled, the ship will still not be returned to the owner or leave Philippine waters.

Director Emmanuel Labella of the Bureau of Quarantine also said they are levying fines because of the captain's refusal to abide by the rules and regulations of the Philippines, specifically R.A. 9271 or the Quarantine Act, they issued fines.

A fine of not less than P10,000 but not more than P50,000 for each crew and not less than P100,000 but not more than P500,000 for the ship.

"As of the moment, naka-impound ang barko, kung di mopatim-aw ang agent, dili gyud ni mahatagan ug clearance sa three offices, dili gyud makagawas ang barko," Labella said.

The Bureau of Customs will also be fielding their men for security today in the area until such time that the penalties will be settled.

Detention of the crew

Cuizon said that he already submitted the incident report to Alien Control Officer Casimiro Madarang III. He is still waiting for Madarang's decision whether to detain the 24 crew or not.

"Wala pa mi naka-decide ana kay naghuwat kog instruction sa among head," Cuizon said.

And once he will receive the letter from the captain or the agent, he will still forward it to the head office. In the event that the ship will try to escape, the agent will be liable for it, he said.

Suspicion

Dela Cuesta said he is not certain of the activity of the ship and why it was there for almost a month.

"Nalaman nga namin na May 19 pa pala sila nandoon. Malay natin, baka may sinakay o binaba," Dela Cuesta said.

He also doubted the captain's claim that he could only speak a little English. "Ewan ko kung kunwari-wari lang nila. May kapitan bang hindi marunong mag-English? Minsan parang nagmamaang-maangan lang sila," Dela Cuesta said.

Aguilar, on the other hand, echoed the same thing since the captain denied that it was the ship's fault since it was their local shipping agency here which told them to stay in the said area while waiting for the cargo in Isabel, Leyte.

"It is the fault of the agent of the vessel, did not inform me about this formality (CIQ inspection). I will call the owner of the vessel," the captain said as quoted by Jimmy Aguilar of the Customs Police.

"The captain of the vessel knows no English, only a little, lisud gyud ang iyang pag-English. Nagduda gyud mi nga wala silay karga ug wala sila magkarga. Nganung niabot man ug one month? Kung naay kargamento, possibility ana 10 days makuha na ang kargamento" Aguilar said.

Aguilar added that the captain, knowing that they have been there for a month already, should have informed the authorities of their presence.

"Sayop niya wala siya nag-inform sa CIQ. Nabalaka ang mga residents nga basin kuhaan lang ang ilang mga sand ug dad-on padung sa China," Aguilar said. –(FREEMAN)