Philippines charges 122 Vietnamese fishermen with poaching+

Friday 3rd June, 2011

Philippine authorities charged Friday 122 Vietnamese caught fishing in Philippine waters last Monday with poaching.

Police officer Grace Vic Gomba told Kyodo News the charge for violation of the Philippine Fisheries Code was filed before the Palawan Provincial Prosecutors Office by the Palawan police and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development.

"With their modern fishing vessels that are equipped with electronic maps and GPS (global positioning system), it is impossible for them not to know that they were already within Philippine territory," Gomba, who is in the investigation division of the Palawan police, said in justifying the charges.

"In addition, there was an intention to deceive our law enforcers because they put Philippine flags on their vessels," he added.

The fishermen were detained Monday morning by joint operatives of the Philippine police, coast guard and navy.

They were on seven boats in waters off Balabac, an island town at the southernmost tip of Palawan Province in western Philippines.

They are in the custody of the Philippine Navy in the provincial capital Puerto Princesa City and have already contacted the Vietnamese authorities, Gomba said.

Poaching carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment for six years or a $10,000 fine, Gomba said.