Chinese poachers face wildlife raps

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang wants the 11 Chinese fishermen caught poaching sea turtles off Palawan to face charges in court despite China’s demand that they be released.

Speaking to reporters, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. yesterday said police are justified in arresting the Chinese, who had violated laws on the protection of wildlife.

“It was in accordance with their duty to enforce environment protection and wildlife conservation laws while upholding Philippine sovereign rights over our exclusive economic zone,” he said.

Authorities in Palawan will deal with the case, Coloma said.

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II said the   government will stand firm against any attempt of China to recover its citizens caught poaching off Palawan.

Speaking to reporters, Roxas said he has elevated the matter to the Cabinet cluster on security upon receiving a report from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group.

“This has become a (diplomatic) issue only because there is tension (in the West Philippine Sea), but the PNP Maritime Group was simply doing its job.  “The nationality of those who committed this (poaching) is irrelevant. The question is simple – let’s not muddle the issue – are these turtles endangered or not?”   The suspected poachers were caught only 60 nautical miles from Palawan, Roxas said.

Police have referred the arrest of the suspected poachers to the Committee on Illegal Entrants.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima said the arrest was made within Philippine territory.

In 1995, the Committee on Illegal Entrants was created under Executive Order 236 to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity and its sovereign right to explore and exploit, develop and manage its marine resources in accordance with existing laws.

The committee is comprised of the Department of Foreign Affairs as chairman, Department of Justice, Department of National Defense and Department of the Interior and Local Government and their attached agencies.

Maritime Group director Chief Superintendent Noel Lazarus Vargas said they have informed the DFA of the arrest.

“If we apprehend a foreigner then we have to inform the DFA, the Bureau of Immigration, then the foreigners will be brought to the nearest government facility to ensure their protection,” he said.

Vargas said they have yet to document the identities of the arrested suspects since the process is still ongoing.

“We cannot assume that the crew are all Chinese,” he said.

Police are investigating the possible connivance between local and foreign poachers, since the arrested Filipinos were seen loading the turtles on the Chinese ship.

China protested on Wednesday the detention of  the 11 Chinese fishermen and the impounding of their fishing boat.

In a text message to reporters, Chinese embassy spokesman Zhang Hua  said the embassy has lodged “solemn representations” with the Philippines.

“China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters, including the Banyue Reef,” Zhang said.

Zhang said China asked the Philippines for a rational explanation and the immediate release of the Chinese boat and crew.

“This provocative action is premeditated in an attempt to create tensions, and severely violates China’s sovereignty and maritime rights,” Zhang said.

“The Chinese side strongly urges the Philippine side to release the boat and its crew immediately, and guarantee the crew’s safety and their property.

“The Chinese side warns the Philippine side not to take provocative actions, so as to avoid further damage to bilateral relations. The Chinese side will keep following closely the development of this provocative act.”

Half Moon Shoal, near where the Chinese were caught, is only 60 nautical miles from Palawan.

Locally known as Hasa-Hasa Shoal, it is included in China’s claim to almost the entire South China Sea.

Republic Act No. 9147 empowers the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) to prosecute cases of violation of the Wildlife Act. – With Pia Lee-Brago, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Paolo Romero