The five Vietnamese fishermen who were apprehended near Mangsee Island have been committed to Brooke’s Point Municipal District Jail after the filing of criminal charges against them by the maritime police for unlawful operation or fishing inside Philippine waters.
2nd Special Operations Unit-Maritime Group (2nd SOU-MG) spokesperson P/Capt. Dandy Ferriol said Saturday that cases for violation of Section 91 of Republic Act 10654 were filed on December 1 against Vietnamese nationals Phan Van Thiet, skipper of the fishing vessel, and crew members Tran Van Son, Nguyen Van Xil, Thach Van Su, and Nguyen Van Phong at Branch 165 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Brooke’s Point.
They were committed to the municipal district jail on December 2.
“Filed na noong Sunday ang kaso then na commit na po ang five Vietnamese sa Brooke’s Point district jail,” Ferriol said.
Under the law, it shall be unlawful for any foreign person, corporation or entity to fish or operate any fishing vessel in Philippine waters. Their entry in Philippine waters shall constitute a prima facie presumption that the vessel is engaged in fishing.
The apprehension of the Vietnamese nationals was made by personnel of the 2nd SOU-MG on November 29 in Mangsee Island, Balabac led by P/Capt. Aldin Brogarolas following intensified seaborne patrol operations in the area.
