AN UNREGISTERED fishing vessel manned by four Vietnamese crewmen was intercepted by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel near Taganak in the province of Tawi-Tawi, a top PCG official said Saturday, August 17.
Taganak Island is at the very edge of the international treaty limits separating the Philippines from Malaysia.
Commodore Joseph Coyme, PCG Southwestern Mindanao District commander, said the unregistered fishing vessel was intercepted by patrolling PCG men around 3 p.m. Friday in the vicinity of Langaan Island.
Coyme said the fishing vessel has no safety security environmental number (SSEN), a tagging system applied to all vessels in the country for purpose of identification and security.
The fishing vessel was found out to be manned by four undocumented Vietnamese when the coastguard personnel conducted onboard inspection, he added.
He said they also discovered aboard the fishing vessel a drum full of sea cucumber.
He added the apprehended vessel and its crewmen were escorted to the coast guard station in Great Bakkungaan Island for proper disposition. (SunStar Philippines)