Thirteen Vietnamese turtle poachers convicted

Killed 101 critcally endangered hawksbill turtles

August 2010: After nearly two years, 13 Vietnamese poachers caught with the corpses of 101 endangered Hawksbill Turtles have been convicted of poaching. Since the poachers have been detained in Puerto Princesa since September 2, 2008 and the longest jail term was 18 months, the court ruled that only the fines which in some cases are as much as £64,000, remain to be served.

HAWKSBILL HAUL: The poachers were caught with 101 dead hawksbill turtles. Picture: WWF

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has commended Puerto Princesa Regional Trial Court Branch 50 for dispensing due justice to the poachers, and is hopeful this will be set a useful precedent.

WWF-Philippines Palawan Project Manager RJ dela Calzada, who also serves as an Auxiliary Commander for the Philippine Coast Guard, says, ‘Let this serve as a precedent for future cases – and as a strong warning to all those who continue to encroach upon Philippine waters to plunder our dwindling marine resources.'

Found drowned in the cargo hold
The Vietnamese vessel was stopped by two Joint Task Force Malampaya (JTFM) gunboats five miles east of Cabaluan Island near El Nido on the night on August 29, 2008. The 13-man crew attempted to scuttle the craft by flooding the holds, which was swiftly thwarted. Found drowned in the vessel's cargo holds were 101 hawksbill turtles, classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as critically endangered. Under both Philippine and international law, it is illegal to capture and kill sea turtles and to trade in turtle by-products.

The August apprehension of the Vietnamese proved one of the largest illegal wildlife hauls of 2008. In the past decade more than 1,000 foreigners have been arrested and charged for poaching in the waters of Palawan alone. Over 660 poachers were Chinese. Sentences have historically proven rare, under fear of damaging international relations with neighbouring countries.

Last week's court decision is a step in the right direction and a 180-degree turn from the country's image as a hotbed for poaching activities.

Says WWF-Philippines Vice-Chair and CEO Lory Tan, "This is a good example of enforcement meted out to a logical and just end. Laws are enacted to create that level playing field designed to protect the public and serve the greater good. There can be no exceptions. Whether Vietnamese, Chinese or Filipino - environmental criminals must be held fully accountable for destroying the legacy we all hope to leave behind for future generations.'