Radar Was Off When Chinese Fishing Vessel Ran Aground Tubbataha Reef, Caught Fishermen Tempts Park Rangers with Bribery

Charges of bribery and illegal entry await the 12 Chinese fishers on board a fishing vessel that ran aground in the Philippines' Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, the latest mishap in a span of just two months, even as park rangers admitted its monitoring radar was off at the time of the accident.

The Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) said in a statement on Tuesday that the 12 Chinese fishermen tempted to bribe the marine park rangers with US$2,400.

Under the Philippines' Republic Act 10067 or the Tubbataha Act of 2009, the Chinese fishers face charges of violating Sections 19 (Unauthorized Entry), 20 (Damages to the Reefs), 26 (Destroying, Disturbing Resources), and Section 27 (Poaching by Foreigners).

"A case for corruption of public officials under Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines will also be filed. The Chinese nationals will also face administrative charges aside from the criminal charges as provided in the RA 10067," the TMO's statement said.

The Chinese fishing vessel, whose occupants were believed to be poachers and illegal entrants, ran aground in the treasured marine sanctuary on Monday night.

However, its grounding may have been possibly averted had the TMO's rader been switched on at the time.

"Ang radar [namin], bukas every three hours. Hindi kayang buong araw nakabukas yan. Minsan it's between those three hours hindi nila makita," Angelique Songco, TMO head, said in an interview with local radio station dzBB. (Our radar is switched on only every three hours. It can't run full day. Sometimes, it is during those three hours when we could not monitor them that they enter.)

It was only after hearing the sound of an engine that they know a vessel had again hit the treasured Philippine reef.

Ms Songco lamely defended that even if the radar was on, past experiences with Chinese vessels showed the latter refused to heed their radio calls.

"Hindi mo makuha ang frequency. (We cannot get their frequency.) How do you know how to get in touch with them?" she said.

Attempts to use universal frequencies were likewise ineffective because the Chinese blocks those frequencies out by playing music.

"Ang universal channel pupunuin ng kanta. Walang makagamit ng radio sa Sulu Sea. (They would bombard the universal channel with music. Nobody can use the radio out on Sulu Sea.)"

The 12 Chinese fishermen have been transported by the Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday to Puerto Princesa City in the province of Palawan.