12 Chinese fishermen face Bribery Raps

Tubbataha Management Office filed bribery charges to 12 Chinese fishermen who were recently arraigned on charges for poaching in the Tubbataha reef in Sulu Sea.

The twelve fishermen whose ship grounded on the protected marine sancturay last Tuesday have been in detention. Alen Ross Rodriguez, Chief Prosecutor in the island province of Palawan said that the fishermen had been charged with poaching for not following the fishing bans in Tubbataha reef. Bribery charges for “attempted corruption of public officials” were also filed against them. The park rangers were offered $2,400 in exchange of their freedom.

A maximum of 12 years imprisonment can be implemented for both charges.

The head of Environmental Legal Assistance Center in Palawan, Grizelda Mayo-Anda extended its concern on fishermen caught poaching who were deported back to China just after few weeks in jail.

Rodriguez said they will seek to quickly prosecute and resolve the case. He also noted that “no one can just enter our waters and willfully destroy our marine life.”

Sources: abs-cbnnews.com, inquirer.net