Subic fishers freed by Malaysian authorities

SUBIC, Zambales—Three fishermen from this coastal town were held by the Malaysian authorities on Monday for allegedly illegally fishing in Malaysian waters, but they were released the next day, according to the fishermen’s relatives here.

Arlon Sandro, Odelin Baisa and Nelson Flamiano, all residents of Barangay Calapandayan here, were arrested at 1 p.m. after they were spotted by the Malaysian maritime police that claimed the Filipinos illegally entered Malaysia’s territorial waters, southwest of the Philippines.

Renalyn Viala, Sandro’s wife, said she learned about the arrest from other local fishermen, who received radio messages from the three.

“My husband and his companions didn’t have a compass or GPS (Global Positioning System) when they sailed so they didn’t know that they crossed boundaries,” Viala said.

She said the Philippine Navy coordinated with the Malaysian authorities after learning about the arrest also through radio messages.

The arrested fishermen were freed at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Viala said. RC