Pre-trial of Chinese poachers canceled anew

Eleven Chinese fishermen arrested by Philippine maritime police for poaching in the West Philippine Sea. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The pre-trial of the criminal case against nine Chinese fishermen arrested for poaching at the Half Moon Shoal or Hasa Hasa Shoal some 60 nautical miles off Palawan early this year has been canceled for the fifth time.

Provincial prosecutor Allen Ross Rodriguez said the pre-trial last August 5 was deferred anew to next month by Puerto Princesa City Regional Trial Court Branch 51 Judge Ambrosio de Luna.

“There was no interpreter present so the court moved the pre-trial to September 3,” Rodriguez said.

Pre-trial was first set on June 4 but was moved to June 18, then June 24. From June 24, it was moved to July 1 for lack of interpreters. The June 18 pre-trial was cancelled due to lack of lawyer to represent the nine fishermen. The July 1 was moved to Aug. 5 because the Judge will attend a seminar-lecture at the Philippine Judicial Academy.

The court is having hard time finding an interpreter because no interpreter in Palawan wants to take the job, Rodriguez said though he refused to elaborate on the reason.

But reports from the province said members of the Chinese community fear a reprisal from the Chinese government, which could prejudice to their businesses.

Aside from the lack of interpreter in the Chinese language, previous pre-trial has also been postponed once due to a lack of lawyer to represent the accused in the court proceedings.

A pre-trial is conducted before the start of the trial to clarify points of law and facts.

The fishermen all pleaded not guilty to the charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation Act specifically Section 9,7, for fishing or taking of rare, threatened or endangered species and Section 87 of RA 8550 for poaching.

Personnel of the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group Special Boat Unit confiscated more than 350 live and dead turtles, some of which are protected under the country’s environmental laws, from their fishing vessel when they were apprehended last April.

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