PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan: The Philippine National Police Maritime Special Boat Unit(PNP-SBU) identified the Chinese captain of the boat as Chen Hi Quan from Hainan Province, China.
He is currently in a meeting with PNP Maritime SBU Chief Supt. Osmondo Salibo.
On the recovered green sea turtles, 120 are live and 234 are dead, according to a maritime personnel, who refused to be named.
The five Filipino fishermen is headed by boat captain Banto Amlain, who is a Muslim resident of Balabac. He was arrested with four crewmen.
Found in his boat were 70 live green sea turtles or pawikan, which the maritime suspects will be sold to the Chinese fishermen in Hasa-Hasa Shoal, an outcrop in the West Philippine Sea where the illegal trading of endangered turtles are reportedly taking place.
The Chinese and Filipino fishermen will be brought to the Western Command for physical examination before they will be brought to the Palawan Regional Trial Court for inquest at Branch 51.
Branch 51 under Judge Ambrocio de Luna has been designated to especially handle cases violating environmental laws.
Salibo is now looking for an interpreter, who can help make the Sino fishermen understand the condition in their arrest.
As of this posting, it was learned that a Chinese consul will arrive here at 4pm. PNA