Chinese crew fined P1.2-M for ship's illegal entry

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Friday that it asked the 24 crew members of a Chinese vessel that illegally entered Philippine territory last May 19 to pay a fine amounting to at least P1.2 million.

BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said in a radio interview Friday that the bureau is asking each crew member of M/V Ming Yuan to pay P52,510. The ship was discovered off Malapascua Island in northern Cebu without seafarers' visa and clearance.

Related story: Chinese cargo ship seized in Cebu

David added that the agency is asking for an additional fine of P6,000 for the 19,998-gross ton cargo ship's unauthorized entry.

He said that based on immigration laws, all foreign vessels and their crew have to be granted seamen's visa first from their port of origin before being allowed to enter the country's waters.

David added that vessels should also send an advanced notice to the bureau that they will enter Philippine territory.

He said that based on standard procedures, immigrations officials would be assigned to receive the foreign ships at the board and conduct "boarding formalities" and inspect their crew.

The Philippine Coast Guard took custody of the cargo ship last June 16 and anchored it at the Cebu marine sanctuary for 33 days.

Related story: PCG clears Chinese cargo ship

Its captain earlier claimed that the Ming Yuan intended to collect cargo from Leyte, but chose to stay at Malapascua.

The Coast Guard cleared the Ming Yuan from poaching allegations, saying that no evidence has been found of it extracting pebbles and sand from Cebu water.

The incident was the second time a Chinese-run vessel was seized by authorities this year.

In April, a Chinese fishing vessel ran aground at the Tubbataha Reef, a UNESCO Heritage marine sanctuary, in Sulu Sea.