Defense chief rules out future arrests of poachers at shoal

Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado ruled out future arrests of Chinese fishermen who stray into the country's territorial waters, saying such actions are only tiresome especially when the Department of Foreign Affairs intervenes for the captives' release.

"In the end (we) release them also. It's a very tedious function," Mercado told reporters yesterday.

"So, I think our task now, instead of arresting them, is to be preventive in our actions," he said.

Mercado was actually responding to criticisms by some opposition congressmen, who denounced the Philippine Navy for merely chasing, and not arresting, the poachers.

Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. (Lakas, Camarines Sur) said these intruders should be jailed since their poaching resulted in a loss of over P36.7 billion for the country.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Lauro Baja Jr. said Chinese fishermen should really be charged of illegal entry and illegal fishing, but "domestic problems" always get in the way.

He said the government lacks funds to sustain captives.

Manila and Beijing are caught in a bitter dispute over a rocky outcrop lying off Luzon island called the Scarborough Shoal, where several Chinese fishing boats were spotted last month and were shooed away.

Manila also filed a diplomatic protest with Beijing, which claims the whole South China Sea as its historical fishing ground.

Last week, the Philippine Navy said it was forced to fire warning shots to avoid ramming into two Chinese fishing boats sailing near the shoal, which lies just 125 miles west of Luzon.

Chinese ambassador Fu Ying told the DFA that her government would also protest the Navy's action.

The Chinese embassy said earlier that the Navy's conduct was a violation of an agreement to exercise restraint in such a disputed area.

The Philippines and China, along with Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan, also claim in whole or in part the potentially mineral rich Spratly islands in the South China Sea.

Mercado said instead of arresting Chinese intruders, Manila would try to deter them from entering the contested territory.

"That means, constant patrolling can in a way prevent intrusion of poachers into our waters," he added.

Mercado also asked for sobriety over the shooting incident in Scarborough Shoal.