Chinese poachers caught in Tubbataha won't be deported - BI

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines won't yet deport the 12 Chinese poachers arrested at the Tubbataha Reef last April and they will remain in detention, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) clarified on Thursday.

 

Lawyer Antonette Mangrobang, BI spokesperson, said a deportation order has already been issued for the Chinese poachers, but it can't be implemented yet since they stand accused in a criminal case.

 

"It is not accurate to say that we will deport these Chinese poachers," Mangrobang said in a television interview on Thursday. "It's one thing that an order for their deportation has already been issued. It's another thing whether or not that order could be implemented."

 

She explained that if the Chinese poachers would be released on bail by the court, then the immigration bureau would take custody of them "because they also stand for violating immigration laws being undocumented and not passing through immigration inspection upon entry."

 

"what we were trying to achieve was that this people would remain in detention because the Bureau of Immigration has grounds for keeping them in detention should they be released on bail by the court," said Mangrobang.

 

"It was clear in our message to the honorable judge of their case that they will stay in detention while their case is pending," she added.

 

Mangrobang said the deportations will be implemented after the Chinese poachers are convicted and have served sentence.

 

The Chinese poachers were arrested last April 8 after their fishing boat ran aground at the Tubbataha Reef. The vessel was found carrying thousands of kilos of scaly anteater meat.

 

They are currently detained at the Palawan provincial jail and are facing charges for poaching and attempted bribery.

 

The World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines chief executive officer Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan said the Chinese vessel could have been carrying up to 2,000 of the toothless, insect-eating animals with their scales already removed.

 

“It is bad enough that the Chinese have illegally entered our seas, navigated without boat papers and crashed recklessly into a national marine park and World Heritage Site,” he said. “It is simply deplorable that they appear to be posing as fishermen to trade in illegal wildlife.”

 

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