Two Chinese Ships were caught off Batanes.
Two Chinese ships flying with inverted PH flags were caught by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
According BFAR central office’s Facebook Page, the fishing vessels identified as Shen Lian Cheng 720 and Shen Lian Cheng 719 were apprehended on Batanes and Babuyan Island.
The authorities from PCG and BFAR were conducting a seaborn patrol when the caught the Chinese ships reportedly seen with inverted Philippine flags. A total of 25 Chinese crew members were aboard the ships.
The documents howed that the vessels are registered with People’s Republic of China. One of the Chinese nationals has also failed to present a document authorizing the boats to pass by Philippine waters.
Department of Agriculture undersecretary for fisheres Atty. Asis Perez said that the crew told them that they were just passing through, but failed to show a letter allowing them to pass the island.
“Based on existing rules, the fact that both foreign fishing vessels were flying Philippine flag gave rise to the presumption that they are engaged in poaching, as there seems to be an attempt to conceal the vessels’ true identity to enable themselves to engage in fishing activity in Philippine water,” he said.
He also added that the vessels are allegedly engaged in poaching and they used the Philippine flags to hide their identities.
According to Perez, the BFAR has already informed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to communicate with the Chinese Embassy.
The vessels were already transferred to Basco, Batanes to investigate the incident.