PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, May 8 (PNA) -– The Western Command (Wescom) in this city has named the 11 Chinese fishermen intercepted by the elements of the PNP Maritime Special Boat Unit (SBU) Thursday following their transfer and medical examination to its military hospital.
The Sino boat captain of F/V Qiongqionghai 09063 earlier identified as Chen Hi Quan was with 10 crewmen named Shi Xian Xiong, Shi Lian Doung, He Zhuang, He Chun, Huang Ji Xuan, He Sheng Bao, He Yuan Cheng, Lu Chuan Fang, Chen Ze Hao and Li Xiang Hui.
The five Filipino fishermen, who were not immediately named as of press time, were no longer brought to the Wescom for physical examination, said Lt. Col. Emmanuel Canilla of the Civil Relations Group (CRG).
“The Filipino fishermen were brought from the PNP Maritime SBU directly to court for inquest,” Canilla said.
The boat captain of the Filipino fishermen was identified Thursday morning as Banto Amlain, a Muslim resident of Balabac town, believed to be selling 70 heads of live green sea turtles (pawikan) to the arrested Chinese fishermen in Hasa-Hasa or Half Moon Shoal.
“This only goes to show that we’re not discriminating between the Chinese and Filipino fishermen intercepted in Hasa-Hasa Shoal. The Filipino fishermen were immediately brought to court. We’re treating our Chinese friends humanely here,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese fishing vessel that is supposedly arriving in Puerto Princesa, specifically at the PNP Maritime SBU Headquarters in Barangay Sta. Lourdes, might be delayed as the maritime boat tugging it from Hasa-Hasa Shoal reportedly suffered from engine trouble.
Canilla suspects that the fishing vessel with over 300 heads of live and dead endangered green sea turtles will arrive in Puerto Princesa early Friday morning. (Philippine News Agency)