Manila to free 17 Vietnamese

Manila to free 17 Vietnamese

MANILA (AFP): Manila has agreed to release 17 Vietnamese fishermen arrested last October for allegedly poaching in Philippine waters, but will hold their boats, the Foreign Department said yesterday.

Foreign Undersecretary Rodolfo Severino said the National Committee on Illegal Entrants (NCIE) recommended the release of the fishermen because "they were found not to have done any wrongdoing."

The 17 fishermen, aged 17 to 50, were on two vessels when they were arrested by the Philippine navy off the southwestern island of Palawan, where they are now under the custody of the Coast Guard there.

Hanoi sought the release of the Vietnamese through diplomatic channels last month, saying the fishermen "were driven by sea currents to the area where they were apprehended." The Vietnamese embassy also sought the release of the boats and their request is under review, Severino said.