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.