RP navy arrests 34 Chinese fishermen

RP navy arrests 34 Chinese fishermen

MANILA (DPA): The Philippine navy said yesterday 34 Chinese fishermen arrested off the northern coast last week would be charged with unlawful entry and illegal fishing.

Navy Commander Ponciano Manalang said 45 tons of fish believed to have been illegally caught in Philippine waters were seized from the fishermen's two vessels.

Patrols intercepted the Chinese near Derike Inlet off the province of Ilocos Norte, some 405 kilometers north of Manila, Friday. The fishermen were detained at a government port in nearby La Union province.

Manalang said other details were not yet available because they were still waiting for an interpreter to communicate with the Chinese and decipher the characters painted on the two ships.