Navy catches Vietnamese poachers in Ilocos waters

DAGUPAN CITY – The Philippine Navy on Wednesday night caught three Vietnamese fishing vessels poaching in Philippine territorial waters off Vigan City in Ilocos Sur, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Friday.

The foreign vessels (bearing the markings BD 95386 TS, BD 07467 TS, and BD 92206 TS) and their crew were pulled by tugboat to the Salomague Port in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, said Nestor Domenden, BFAR Ilocos regional director.

The Vietnamese vessels and a total of 17 crew members will be brought to the San Fernando City port in La Union where charges will be filed, he said.

A Navy patrol boat chanced upon the Vietnamese vessels on its way to pick up the BFAR Quick Response Team at the Salomague Port for a joint operation.

Domenden said the crew members have been barred from leaving their boats.

Under Republic Act No. 10654 or the fisheries regulation law, foreign poachers will be fined up to $2.4 million. JE/rga