Philippine navy nets Malaysians

Philippine navy nets Malaysians

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines (AP): A Philippine navy patrol
has arrested 39 Malaysians and 11 Filipinos, some of them minors,
who were caught fishing in Philippine waters, officials said on
Sunday.

An official said the Malaysian fishermen were arrested on
Friday and would be charged with illegally entering and fishing
in Philippine territory.

Officials also are considering charging the Malaysians with
allegedly employing Filipino minors, which is prohibited under a
Philippine child welfare act. The arrested Filipinos may be
charged for fishing with cyanide, which is also banned for
environmental reasons, they said.

The Malaysian fishing boat's skipper, Aminudin Mumajan, denied
the accusations by Philippine officials. Speaking through an
interpreter, Mumajan said they lost their way in a storm while
fishing in Malaysia and ended up in Philippine waters.