10 Vietnamese poachers arrested off Palawan

Carmela Fonbuena

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10 Vietnamese poachers arrested off Palawan

PAO WESCOM

(UPDATED) Dead sharks are found when the Philippine Navy boarded a foreign fishing vessel sailing off Palawan

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Ten Vietnamese allegedly caught poaching off Palawan province were arrested and will face poaching charges, according to the Philippine military.

The naval warship BRP Gregorio Del Pilar was patrolling the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) on Tuesday, August 8, when it sighted foreign fishing vessel Hua Houng off Palawan’s Tapuitan Point.

A spot report from authorities said this occurred in the vicinity of the Malampaya Gas Project, or some 10.5 nautical miles southwest of the Malampaya platform. 

Captain Cherryl Tindog, spokesperson of the military Western Command (Wescom), said the crew of the warship boarded the fishing vessel and found that the Vietnamese crew had on board fine meshed fish net and pieces of a number of slaughtered sharks. 

VIETNAMESE FISHERMEN. The Vietnamese poachers are brought to El Nido in Palawan. Photo by PAO WESCOM

The warship escorted the fishing vessel to El Nido where further inspection was conducted by representatives of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) alongwith the police and coast guard. 

The crew of the fishing vessel, all from Phuyen, Vietnam, were as follows:

  • Thanh Hiep, 46 years old and boat’s captain
  • Vo Van Lang, 47 years old
  • Phan Dung, 49 years old
  • Truong Cao Ky, 51 years old
  • Dinh Van Hai, 46 years old
  • Bui Van Bao, 30 years old,
  • Tran Ngoc Son, 24 years old
  • Do Hung, 54 years old
  • Nguyen Van Huynh, 56 years old
  • Nguyen Cung Vu, 22 years old 

Tindog said Wescom has turned over custody of the fishing vesel to BFAR, which recommended the filing of charges against the Vietnamese crew.

PATROLLING THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA. BRP Gregorio Del Pilar is one of 3 former U.S. Coast Guard ships acquired by the Philippine Navy. Rappler photo

– Rappler.com

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