By Redempto D. Anda, DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:01 am | Wednesday, April 10th, 2013
The no-sail sign is clear on the maps, but there seems to be a beeline of vessels just waiting to get into Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.
On Monday night, a Chinese fishing vessel with a crew of 12 ran aground in the popular marine sanctuary, where a US minesweeper got stuck in January and was recently extracted only nine days ago following an elaborate salvaging operation.
The steel-hulled vessel based in Fujian, China, was identified by the Tubbataha Management Office as a fishing boat with the marking 63168. It was unclear why the boat strayed into the 97,000-hectare diving destination designated a World Heritage site by Unesco, the United Nations’ cultural arm, for its rich biodiversity.
“It’s clear in the charts that the Tubbataha sanctuary is off-limits to navigation but there seems to be a line of ships just waiting to violate that regulation,†said park superintendent Angelique Songco.
The Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Romblon was dispatched to the area in the Sulu Sea flank of mainland Palawan and detained the Chinese for questioning in Puerto Princesa City.
“Once the boat is freed from its current position and is able to move using its own propulsion, the BRP Romblon will escort it to Puerto Princesa,†said Rear Adm. Rodolfo Isorena, the Coast Guard commandant.
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