The arrested 13 fishers are Indonesians and Taiwanese, confirmed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). It also said that the 13 fishermen who were arrested off Davao for illegal entry shortly after midnight which included 11 Indonesians and two Taiwanese. In its field reports Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, the PCG commandant, said that the apprehended fishermen were crewmembers of F/V Karya Wijaya, an Indonesian registered fishing vessel.
He also told that the fishing vessel was spotted at around 12:30 a.m. Friday by coast guard patrols some four miles off Talicud Island, Davao del Sur province. Tamayo explained while their patrol composed of two vessels was maneuvering to intercept, the foreign vessel sped off. It was cornered following a brief sea chase.
According to the coast guard they have found in the intercepted vessel some 200 pieces of freshly caught tuna each weighing between 25 to 35 kilograms. The foreign vessel was then escorted to the coast guard station in Sta. Ana Pier, Davao City where it will be impounded and its crew interrogated before they are turned over to proper authorities for disposition. Tamayo informed that the vessel and its crew will be cited for illegal entry into Philippine waters and for not having fishing permit issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
