Navy catches Filipino boats

SORONG, Irian Jaya: The Indonesian Navy has caught nine Philippine boats for illegal fishing in eastern Indonesian waters in recent months, a local Navy spokesman told Antara.

The ship captains remained in custody at the local navy base here, said the operations officer of the Sorong naval base, First Lt. Muksin.

He identified the skippers as Armando Ticson, Mario Marisoque, Ruel Alfornon, Ponsiano Ladera, Oswaldo Ticson, Nick Alimohan, Romeo Asis, Ronaldo and Rafael.

"The nine fishing boats were each caught red-handed by Indonesian Navy ships when they were fishing in North Maluku and Sorong waters," Muksin said.