Philippine Ambassador Ramoncito S. Marino said they are waiting for the report from the Attorney General’s office. “The Division of Marine Law Enforcement has already submitted their investigation to the Attorney General office; and they’re already preparing the charges.”
Ambassador Marino added, “Most probably it’s going to be illegal fishing and illegal entry. The company will be fined, and the boats won’t be released until they complied with the penalty.”
The two light boats, L/B San Felipe 100 and L/B San Felipe 109, owned by N. H. Agro Industrial Inc. from General Santos City, Philippines, were apprehended by PATROL boat PSS President H.I. Remeliik on February 6 for fishing in Palau waters without license.
Marino said he visited the six fishermen on Friday. “I was able to talk to them; they were doing okay. We were allowed to visit them and we gave them food and basic needs.”
He added that according to the fishermen, they were fishing in Eastern Mindanao waters bounded by the Exclusive Economic Zone of Palau when they were apprehended by Remeliik.
In a letter to the Philippine ambassador, N. H. Agro Industrial, Inc. stated that on February 3, while searching for school of fish, their Catcher boat lost communication with the two light boats. They immediately conducted rescue operations, which proved futile. The search lasted for four days, after which they received a text message from one of the missing crew saying they were already in Koror and were apprehended by the Palau Law Marine Enforcement.
Ambassador Marino already wrote a Note Verbale to the Ministry of State asking for assistance and an early resolution of the incident.
“Up to now, we still don’t know what the charges are going to be,” said the ambassador. “We already communicated with the Ministry of State, and we are waiting for their reply.”
He added that he already advised the company to get lawyers in Palau who will help handle the case here. “I’m hoping that we will resolve this issue sooner,” he said.
