PNP chief Alan Purisima is seen with the Maritime Group's Chief Supt. Noel Vargas (L) and a photo of the Philippine turtles seized from Chinese poachers. Purisima said they were in Philippine territory and the law must take its course. KRISKEN JONES, INTERAKSYON.COM
Contrary to Beijing’s claims, no shots were fired by Philippine authorities who apprehended 11 Chinese poachers caught off Palawan on May 6, and the maritime police strictly followed standard protocols for apprehension.
The arrest, moreover, was not meant to provoke tension with China because it followed a five-day operation against illegal fishing after residents tipped off authorities about the flurry of activities by foreign vessels in southern Palawan.
Maritime authorities made this clear on Thursday, as officials prepared to file charges against the 11 crew members of the Chinese fishing vessel caught on Hasa-hasa (Half-Moon Shoal) just 100 kms from Palawan’s mainland. Beijing had demanded their immediate release and the return of their vessel.
In a statement Thursday, the Chinese embassy in Manila also claimed the arrest was “premeditated,” done by Manila precisely to stir up tensions in the South China Sea.
"Pag foreigner ang na-apprehend, ini-inform ang DFA at Bureau of Immigration. Saka dinadala rin sa isang goverment medical facility ang mga nahuling foreigners para siguraduhin na ligtas at maayos sila [when a foreigner is apprehended by maritime police, the DFA and Bureau of Immigration are informed about it. They are also brought to a government medical facility to ensure they are physically fine]," explained Chief Supt. Niel Vargas, director of the Maritime group.
Before the apprehension of the 11 Chinese on May 6, Vargas said, the Maritime police had a 5-day operation in south Palawan based on a tip by locals about the spate of illegal fishing activities in the area. This belied claims by Beijing, aired through its embassy in Manila on Thursday, that the apprehension was premeditated, meant to provoke China.
Last May 6, the maritime police tailed a local vessel and saw its crew in the act of transferring endangered species to a foreign vessel, which turned out to be Chinese.
Authorities apprehended both vessels. The apprehending officers realized later that the rudder of the foreign vessel was broken, so they towed it to Puerto Princesa.
"If there had been no problem with their [foreign] boat, our maritime police might not have caught up with them. As it happened, they were not able to escape,” PNP chief Gen. Alan Purisima said for his part.
Committee on Illegal Entrants takes over
The PNP has not specified the charges to be filed, having referred the matter to the Committee on Illegal Entrants, a multi-agency panel chaired by DFA with members from the Departments of Justice, of Interior and Local Government and the PNP.
Asked about Beijing’s demand for the release of the suspects, PNP chief Purisima said: "Our assertion is that this is our territory - let the process take its course. It is up to the Committee on Illegal Entrants to determine what to do."
Meanwhile, the PNP has not categorically declared that those caught in the foreign vessel are Chinese, pending completion of investigation.
The suspected poachers have just arrived in Taytay town in Palawan for processing. Their boat is in Puerto Princesa for repairs.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/86354/no-shots-fired-no-premeditation-or-provocation-in-chinese-poachers-arrest---ph-maritime-police
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.