ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has intercepted an unregistered fishing vessel manned by four Vietnamese crewmen off Taganak, Tawi-Tawi, a top PCG official said Saturday.
Commodore Joseph Coyme, PCG Southwestern Mindanao District commander, said the coastguard unit based on Great Bakkungaan Island (also called Bakungan Island) was on routine patrol when it spotted the unregistered fishing vessel around 3 p.m. Friday in the vicinity of Langaan Island.
Coyme said the fishing vessel lacked safety security environmental number (SSEN), a tagging system applied to all vessels in the country for purposes of identification and security.
He said the vessel was found out to be manned by four undocumented Vietnamese when the coastguard personnel made an inspection of the vessel, which was carrying a drum full of sea cucumber.
The seized vessel and its crew were escorted to the Coast Guard station on Great Bakkungaan Island for proper disposition.
Taganak Island is at the very edge of the international treaty limits separating the Philippines from Malaysia. (PNA)
Fishing vessel with 4 Vietnamese crew intercepted off Tawi-Tawi
By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.
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