Taiwanese poachers bolder, growing in number, say Batanes residents
"Galing lang sa cellphone ng mga citizens natin ang mga picture. Kitang-kita sa photo kung nasaan sila sa Batanes," he added.
“Sobrang lakas ng loob nila at tine-threaten ang lumalapit na fishermen. May pinaputukan ng flare gun. May ibang manginigsda di makapasok sa pinapangisdaan nila dahil nakikipag-gitgitan na itong Taiwanese vessel sa natin. Nakapalulungkot na nangyayari ito,†Batongbacal added.
“Hindi na paisa-isa. Ang dating nila maramihan na. May video nga yung mga local fishermen na nasa tabi na ng isla yung mga Taiwanese. May 20 bangka at meron ding malalaki, yun siguro ang mother ship nila,†Joseph Taguba said in a phone interview with GMA News Online.
He also confirmed that one Filipino fisherman was almost hit by a flare when his boat tried to confront the poachers.
Taguba lamented that local fishermen only end up with small fish while the big ones go to the poachers, who also get coconut crabs from the islands.
“Sa kanila ang malalaki, sa amin ang maliliit. Nasa loob na sila ng municipal waters e, nasa tabi na sila ng isla, lumalapag na sila sa lupa,†he said, noting that municipal waters extend 15 kilometers from the shoreline.
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