KOROR (Palau Horizon) – Alonso Joseph, Director of Bureau of Economic and Development was charged with 20 counts of criminal offense in connection with the illegal fishing activity of six fishing vessels from Philippines.
Joseph who is also the President of Palau International United Development Corporation (PIUDC) a fishing company in Palau, was charged with false statement as t value of goods, misconduct in public office, unlawful fishing, possession of steel leaders, entry of unlicensed vessel and employing nonresident workers in violation of the preference to resident workers.
PIUDC’s secretary and Treasurer Mathias Erbai was also charged with the same charges. Joseph and Erbai were both charged on Friday by the Office of the Attorney General.
The affidavit submitted in court stated that six fishing vessels from Philippines arrived on June 2 and the vessels were claimed to be property of PIUDC.
The vessels were seized by local authorities while an investigation was conducted after authorities suspected that the vessels were engaged into illegal fishing.
The document stated that on June 2, Customs officer received a call regarding the arrival of the six vessels from General Santos, Philippines at around 1 pm.
The arrival was delayed until 8:30 pm. The vessels were anchored near Dolphin Pacific and had been visited by two local boats.
The document stated that the vessels were inspected on June 3 and one K-9 dog reacted briefly during the inspection and Immigration officer observed a very large fishing net with mesh holes and about 5,000 feet in length.
The vessels were inspected by a local authority on June 5 and a report to the Palau Division of Transportation stated that one of the vessels “lacked sufficient inner strength and support to withstand continuous stress of the high seas over an extended period of time and is not fit to be considered for registry.”
The report indicated that the other five vessels are” not properly equipped in accordance with Palau’s regulations to undertake voyages. The report concluded that none of the six vessels is acceptable for registry in Palau.”
The document stated that there were six vessel captains on board and none of them are aware of the Labor Application for work permit and they did not possess provisional visa.
The document stated that the captains and the crewmembers movements and everything relating to the task all depend on instructions from Joseph to their main office in Philippines.
The defendant failed to secure labor announcement for 44 Filipino fishermen. The defendants did not make a prior application to the Division of Labor for foreign workers and did not attempt to give resident workers preference for the fishermen jobs and did not present copies of any employment contracts prior to entry of the 44 fishermen from the Philippines.
Palau Horizon interviewed some crewmembers and gathered that vessels are owned by San Lorenzo Ruiz Fishing Industry Inc. of Calumpang, General Santos City, Philippines.
The crewmembers claimed that PIUDC is San Lorenzo Ruiz Fishing Industry Inc.’s partner in Palau.
The vessels are still docked at Marine Law Office in Malakal.
