Vietnamese fishing vessel seized in Tawi-tawi

Government troops recently apprehended a Vietnamese fishing vessel with four Vietnamese on board for illegally fishing in the sea waters of Tawi-Tawi late last week.

Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) commander, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, said operatives of the Coast Guard Sub-Station Great Bakkungan and Turtle Islands Municipal Police Station apprehended one unmarked SSEN marking fishing vessel illegally fishing at sea waters off Great Bakkungan, Langaan, and Boan Islands on Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi at about 2 p.m. Thursday, 15 August.

Sobejana said that during an inspection, it was found out that said vessel was manned by four Vietnamese crew members without legal documents.

He said the operatives conducted joint maritime patrol operation after receiving a report of the presence of a vessel operating illegally in the area.

The vessel containing a drum and three pails of sea cucumber, was then towed to the Coast Guard Sub-Station Great Bakkungan for further investigation and is currently impounded in Bongao for filing of appropriate charges.

We encourage each and every Filipino citizen to immediately report to the proper authorities any illegal fishing activity in their area,” Sobejana said.