Villar urges tougher DFA stance vs Sino poachers

Irked by constant reports of Chinese fishermen poaching on Philippine territorial waters, the Senate foreign affairs committee yesterday asked government to take a tougher stance against offenders.

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., committee chairman urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to reject the request of the Chinese embassy officials for the immediate release of 38 Chinese fishermen who were caught poaching last year.

Villar warned that releasing the Chinese poachers would only embolden others to conduct illegal fishing and violate our laws.

"We will be the laughing stock of criminals and felons if we let them get away unpunished," said Villar. "The foreign poachers must not be given preferential treatment."

He said the poachers must be treated like ordinary people facing charges of violation of the Fisheries Code. The poachers were caught fishing illegally in Malampaya.

Reports said official and residents of Palawan are strongly opposing lobby efforts by Chinese Embassy officials for the release of the Chinese poachers detained a the Puerto Princesa provincial jail.

Cases of poaching and illegal fishing using noxious substances in violation of the Fisheries Code were filed against the Chinese before the Palawan regional trial court.

Confiscated from the 38 Chinese nationals on Sept. 12, 2002, were 18 tons of live fish, implements of blast fishing and poisoning like empty bottles of sodium cyanide solution and powder, homemade dynamites and black pellets suspected to be components of explosive.

Villar said Philippine government officials must not be intimidated by lobby efforts of Chinese officials and urged the DFA to take a stronger stance in implementing the country’s laws. — Sammy Santos