‘I didn’t intervene in Sino fishers’ case’

Justice Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez denied yesterday having intervened in the case of 38 Chinese fishermen arrested for poaching and use of poisonous substances off El Nido, Palawan in September last year.

Last Thursday, a Puerto Princesa City judge sentenced the fishermen to 10 months’ imprisonment and fined them a total of $200,000.

Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes demanded that the poachers pay the full amount of their fine before they are released, having served the prison term.

Gutierrez said she merely relayed the request of the Chinese embassy for a speedy resolution of the fishermen’s case to assistant chief state prosecutor Nilo Mariano.

"The decision will all depend on the judge handling the case. We have no control over that," she said, denying allegations that she had ordered Mariano not to pursue the case.

"Considering that we have good diplomatic relations with China, I merely relayed to Mariano the concern and sentiment of the officials of the Chinese embassy over the plight of the 38 fishermen," she said.— Aurea Calica