12 Chinese fishermen to be released by the Philippines

A court in the Philippines has issued an order for the release of 12 Chinese fishermen who were arrested and sentenced to long-term jail time for fishing in Philippine territory, the Philippine daily newspaper the Chinese Commercial News reported.


On April, 2013, the Philippine police arrested 12 Chinese fishermen when their fishing vessel ran aground in Tubbataha Reef.

The coral reef is well within Philippine territory. The fishermen say they were taking refuge there during a storm.

Later in 2014, the Palawan court in the Philippines convicted the fishermen of poaching and violating the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act of 2009.

They were the first foreigners to be found guilty of violating the law, according to the South China Morning Post.
[CRI/china.org.cn]

6/12/16

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