Bribery charges filed vs Chinese fishermen

MANILA, Philippines - Proceedings against 12 Chinese fishermen whose vessel ran aground in Tubbataha Reef resumed on Thursday morning in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

A military official speaking on behalf of Maj. Gen. Rustico Guerrero of the Western Mindanao Command said that the proceedings resumed at 8:30 a.m.

The proceedings was for the Chinese fishermen's charges for alleged corruption of public officials. under Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code.

The charges were filed after the Chinese fishermen allegedly attempted to bribe Tubbataha park rangers with $2,400 during their arrest after their vessel ran aground in the reef on Monday night.

The $2,400 bribe money was kept by the Marine park rangers as evidence against the Chinese fishermen.

On Wednesday night, authorities filed poaching charges against the Chinese fishermen before the Palawan Prosecutor's Office.

After the reading of charges, the court in Puerto Princesa City declared a recess of the proceedings because the Chinese fishermen had no lawyer.

Poaching by foreigners under Section 27 of Republic Act 10067 or the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act has a corresponding punishment of six to 12 years of imprisonment plus a fin of $100,000.

"In case of non-payment of fine, subsidiary imprisonment shall be imposed," the law said.

While on recess, the court ordered the Western Mindanao Command to take custody of the 12 Chinese fishermen.

Meanwhile, it was learned that the military is conducting a separate probe to determine why the Chinese fishermen's vessel strayed at Tubbataha Reef, a protected marine area and a UNESCO-declared Heritage Park within the Sulu Sea.

“With the type and kind of fishing vessel that got stuck at Tubbataha, we could only wonder why the vessel is only manned by 12 personnel when in fact  most of their fishing boats of that kind are usually staff with more than 30 personnel each,” the military observer said.

Refloating

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced that it's sending additional teams to Tubbataha Reef to help remove the Chinese fishing vessel.

Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo said the teams included divers from the special operations group and environmental protection unit personnel looking out for oil spills.

Balilo said that the PCG teams will help in efforts to remove the Chinese fishing vessel, initially by lightening its load.

The Coast Guard aims to remove at least 8,000 liters of fuel as well as fishing nets and water from the ship's cargo hold so it can retract from the reef on its own.

"Once the ship lightens, she may be able to retract from the reef on her own," PCG commandant Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena said.

He said the fishing vessel's engine did not appear to sustain any damage.

The Chinese fishing vessel's grounding happened days after the US minesweeper USS Guardian was removed from the Tubbataha Reef. It ran aground in the reef last January 17. Jaime Laude