Monday, May 12, 2014

DOJ files criminal raps vs. 9 Chinese poachers

From the Philippine News Agency (May 12): DOJ files criminal raps vs. 9 Chinese poachers

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday filed a case for violation of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 before the Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Regional Trial Court (RTC) against nine of the 11 Chinese poachers arrested off Hasa-Hasa Shoal (Half Moon Shoal) in disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea.

Palawan Provincial Prosecutor Allen Roz Rodriguez said that the case against the two Chinese poachers were dismissed because they are minors.

"We turned them (two minors) over to the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) for their repatriation," Rodriguez said.

The nine Chinese poachers are facing a case for violation of Section 87, or "poaching in Philippine waters", and Section 97, or "fishing or taking of rare, threatened or endangered species", of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

Rodriguez said that they gave the nine poachers a public lawyer to represent them but the accused refused insisting that they did nothing wrong because they are fishing in Chinese waters.

He said that he tried to convince a Chinese consul who assisted the nine poachers to be represented by the public lawyer but the official also refused.

"Still, the public lawyer stayed while we are conducting the inquest proceedings," Rodriguez said.

The DOJ recommended a bail of Php 30,000 each of the nine accused for violation of Section 87 and Php 40,000 each for Section 97 of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=642834

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