16 UNDOCUMENTED CHINESE NATIONALS FOUND OFF BATAAN

BY KEVIN GALANG

MEMBERS of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) found 16 Chinese nationals  within the waters off Mariveles in Bataan.

In a report to Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Redrico  Maranan,  a concerned citizen informed the police of the presence of Chinese men in the area.

A team of police was immediately deployed to check the information.

Police were told the Chinese nationals were seen being disembarked by the PCG at the pier in Bgy. Cabcaben.  

Prior to the disembarking, the undocumented Chinese men were found aboard dredger vessel ‘”Harvest 89″ during a pre-departure inspection by the PCG in Mariveles, Bataan on Tuesday.

According to the PCG, the pre-departure inspection was conducted after an agent of Harvest 89 notified the PCG of the ship’s departure for San Felipe, Zambales for dredging operations.

When the PCG attempted to board the vessel for a pre-departure inspection and to secure the Master’s Declaration of Safe Departure, the agent denied them entry.

The refusal prompted PCG personnel from its substation in Limay, Bataan to perform a more detailed inspection.

A composite team from the PCG initially discovered nine undocumented Chinese crew members even though the ship manifest stated only eight Filipino crew members.

A follow-up inspection found four more undocumented Chinese nationals in hiding in the vessel.

The PCG also said a uniform resembling that of the People’s Liberation Army was found on board the vessel, raising significant concerns regarding the intentions of the undocumented  Chinese men.