PH fishermen detained, freed by Malaysian authorities

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

Arlon Sandro, Odelin Baisa and Nelson Flamiano, all residents of Barangay Calapandayan here, were arrested at

1 p.m. after they were spotted by Malaysian maritime policemen, who claimed the Filipinos illegally entered Malaysia’s territorial waters, southwest of the Philippines.

The fishermen, who were crew members of FB Justine Lloyd, may have been mauled while under Malaysian custody, according to their relatives.

Neither the Philippine Navy nor the Philippine Coast Guard has responded to queries about the fishermen’s detention.

Loida Datinguinoo, 33, wife of the boat captain, said they received reports that the Malaysian marine police assaulted the three fishermen while they were detained in a Malaysian vessel.

“The three suffered injuries before they were freed. That is very worrisome,” Datinguinoo said in Filipino.

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 had crossed boundaries,” Viala said. Allan Macatuno, Inquirer Central Luzon