Tubbataha intruders still a puzzle

From the Manila Standard Today (Apr 19): Tubbataha intruders still a puzzle

Government security forces could not get their acts together on whether the captain and crewmen of the Chinese vessel Ming Long Yu that ran aground in Tubbataha Reef last week were indeed fishermen or spies on an espionage mission in the Sulu Sea.

“It’s mere speculation,” said Coast Guard chief information officer Commander Armand Balilo said on claims that the fishermen were actually probing the country’s defenses in the area of the Tubbataha Reef.

“We found documents inside the boat showing that it is indeed a fishing vessel,” said Balilio, adding that although there were no marine life on board at the time of the crewmen’s arrest, there were fishing implements and no other unusual equipment on board.

But military intelligence sources said the Armed Forces believe the seamen were indeed on an espionage mission to test the government’s ability to react and respond to the illegal presence of a foreign vessel in Philippine territory.

“We can say that they were on an espionage mission,” said a military intelligence source who asked not to be identified. “They may have been evaluating the environment at the shoals, reefs and islates within our territory.”

The official also noted that the vessel did not have an ice-maker or a refrigerated cargo hold, like most fishing vessels, and the crew, whom authorities described as fair-skinned, were not dark-complexioned like most fishermen.

Balilo said, however, that the men may have been simple poachers who were looking to profit from the scaly anteaters, or pangolins, they had on board. The authorities could not determine, however, if the engendered animals came from Palawan or elsewhere.

Balilong said pangolin scales sell for as much as P5,000 a kilo and is a traditional Chinese medicine. Authorities have not determined the species of the pangolin that were seized from the Chinese seamen. Balilo added.

But the Coast Guard has filed charges of unauthorized entry, damage of the reef, poaching under Republic Act 10067, or the Tubbataha Act of 2009. There were also slapped an additional charge of direct bribery after they offered to pay arresting officials $2,400 for their freedom.

Balilo said the men were detained at the Palawan Provincial Jail while they are awaiting trial. “It’s up to the local court to investigate, because we already filed charges against them,” he said.

Meanwhile, M/T Limay, a tugboat of the salvaging firm Malayan Towage Salvaging, arrived at the grounding site around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday to start the salvaging operations for the 48-meter Chinese boat.

The salvage operation was put on hold last Sunday after Coast Guard search and rescue vessel BRP Corregidor encountered engine problems, prompting the agency to hire the Limay as the lead salvage vessel.

Another Coast Guard vessel BRP Romblon, the first to arrive in the area, will stay at the grounding site to help Limay in the removal operations.

Balilo said the salvage team would have to assess the condition of the Ming Long Yu before they start operations, because the vessel moved slightly from its original position while its hull and propeller remain intact and are in good condition.

“Once the vessel (Ming Long Yu) is inspected, they will then tow it from Tubbataha Reef to Puerto Princesa where it will undergo another inspection,” said Balilo.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/04/19/tubbataha-intruders-still-a-puzzle/