China: Free 38 fishermen

The Chinese government is asking the Philippine government to release 38 Chinese fishermen detained in Palawan since September last year, in time for the Chinese New Year celebration on Feb. 1, sources at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The sources said Chinese Embassy officials went to the DFA last week to reiterate their request to expedite the release of the 38 fishermen. The embassy forwarded a diplomatic note on the matter last month.

Last September, the government acceded to China’s similar request for the release of 122 other Chinese fishermen detained in Palawan on poaching charges.

The counsel of the 38 fishermen has filed with the Palawan Provincial Committee on Illegal Entrants a motion to quash the charges against them, arguing that they were apprehended outside of Philippine waters.

But local authorities said they were caught near the Malampaya natural gas platform west of Palawan, thus within Philippine jurisdiction.

The Jan. 20 hearing on the case was deferred. The arraignment has yet to be scheduled. — Aurea Calica