Vietnamese fishing boat had six bullet holes: Pangasinan police

September 27, 2017

The Vietnamese fishing boat which rammed the port side of the Philippine Navy vessel has six bullet holes, said Pangasinan Police Provincial Office

"During the investigation, it was also ascertained said Vietnamese vessel incurred six bullet holes on its bow (storage), port side and stern portion", Pangasinan Police Provincial Office said in a press statement.

A Scene of the Crime Operatives team from Provincial Crime Laboratory Office of Lingayen recovered two deformed and fragmented fired bullet and one deformed and fragmented bullet jacket in the Vietnamese boat.

The bodies of Le Van Liem and Le Van Reo, both 41 years old, were found in the stockroom which was located at the bow of the vessel, it said.

The Vietnamese fishing boat engaged in a chase with the Philippine Navy after being spotted at 34 nautical miles of Bolinao, Pangasinan on September 22 engaged in alleged illegal fishing.

The 49 crew of the Philippine Navy boat BRP Malvar led by its commanding officer Wilmer Base are the subject of the investigation, it said.

The captain of the boat Pham To, 34 and his crew Phan Lam, 34, Nguyen Thanh Chi, 49, Phan Van Liem, 41, and Nguyen Van Trong, 41 were arrested.

Five pieces of big yellow fin tuna with more or less 250 kilos and one sack of dried squid more or less 50 kilos that amounted to P78,000 were discovered in the fishing vessel, it said.

At least six Vietnamese fishing vessels were spotted by the Philippine Navy engaging in illegal fishing activities inside the Philippine exclusive economic zone, it said. Alanna Ambi/DMS