MikeLigalig.com

Set up four years ago with funding from the US government, which also donated the gunboats and provided Navy SEAL training, the unit's mission is to patrol the near-2,000-kilometre (1,243-mile) coast of the strategically located province.

Combating human trafficking is one part of its mission, but most of its time and resources is spent on trying to stop poaching of rare fish and other endangered wildlife in and around Palawan, which lies astride the South China Sea.

"Without those (gunboats) the poachers would be laughing at us," said the unit's chief administrative officer, Inspector Bryan Espinosa.


A member of Philippine Maritime police Special Boat Unit walks towards a Chinese vessel apprehended weeks ago for alleged illegal fishing near the disputed Spratly islands, anchored in Honda Bay, off Puerto Princesa, Palawan island, on June 6, 2014 (AFP Photo/Ted Aljibe)

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=78516.0

Most recently, the unit last month arrested 9 Chinese fishermen in hotly contested South China Sea waters off Palawan and seized their boat, which police said contained hundreds of endangered hawksbill sea turtles, many of them dead.


Members of Philippine Maritime police Special Boat Unit simulate an apprehension of poachers during a training exercise in Honda Bay off Puerto Princesa, Palawan island, southwest of Manila, on June 6, 2014 (AFP Photo/Ted Aljibe)

Most of the unit's work is restricted to just off the coast of Palawan, which is indisputably Philippine territory.

However the Chinese bust occurred more than 100 kilometres (60 miles) off Palawan in a part of the South China Sea that the Philippines insists it has sovereign rights over but is also claimed by China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=78516.0

The crew of the Chinese boat have appeared in court at Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan, for initial proceedings in what is expected to be a lengthy judicial process. They have pleaded not guilty.

They are in the provincial jail with dozens of Vietnamese arrested near Palawan's most southern tip in waters that indisputably belong to the Philippines.

Twelve of those fishermen offered last week to switch to guilty pleas and pay fines in exchange for their immediate release.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=78516.0

Rodriquez said most foreigners charged with illegal fishing served sentences ranging from six months to four years.

The Chinese detained last week face longer prison terms because their case involves an endangered species, rather than just illegal fishing.

Fishermen from China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam have for centuries shared the South China Sea's riches, mostly peacefully.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=78516.0

However Abella conceded this still would not be nearly enough to counter the growing problem of foreign fishing incursions.

"We know it remains rampant," he said.

"Palawan has a lot of resources that are no longer available where they come from, and it is relatively easy to get them. They know that policing here is not as strict, that's why they continue to come here."

Meanwhile, there are no police gunboats to patrol the rest of the country's coastline, the fourth longest in the world.

The safeguarding of marine resources along the rest of the Philippines' coastline is left to the poorly equipped navy and coastguard, which is generally preoccupied with other duties.

http://news.yahoo.com/

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=78516.0