PHl Navy arrests 17 Vietnamese poachers at West Phl Sea

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 9): PHl Navy arrests 17 Vietnamese poachers at West Phl Sea

The Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL) arrested on Thursday three Vietnamese fishing vessels in waters off 21 nautical miles west of Dile Point, Vigan City for suspected illegal poaching.

According to Navy Commander Ronnie Paba, the chief of the Naval Task Group 11.1, the 17 Vietnamese fishermen on board the vessels were brought to the Fort Salomague in Cabugao town for further investigation.

The 17 Vietnamese crewmen were identified as: Tran Huu Trung, Bui Van Liem,  Le Tien, Bui Van Luom, Huynh Hgoe Tuan,  Le  Than Trung, Tran Hoang Kim, Va An, Phan Haui Tuy, Nguger Van Phoung, Ngryan Dy Fuong, Vo Thien, Dink Thien Son, Nguyen  Gio, Hyunh Thanh Thang, Do Thenh Lai and Tran Huu Phuc.

Paba said the arrested Vietnamese fishermen will be charged for illegal poaching and illegal entrant after they fail to present legal documents allowing them to have fishing venture in the Philippine coastal waters.

As of Thursday afternoon, he said that other concerned agencies are having a coordination meeting to decide on the agency responsible for the temporary custody of the arrested fishermen.

Meanwhile, the local office of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is now coordinating to the Vietnamese embassy to inform the arrest of their citizens at the West Philippine Sea.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is also presently conducting inventory of the caught coastal water resources loaded in the captured vessels.

The Philippines, along with other Southeast Asian countries, is in dispute with China over its expansive claims to most of the West Philippine Sea.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2711473396651/phl-navy-arrests-17-vietnamese-poachers-at-west-phl-sea