Prosecutors have recommended a bail of P120,000 for each of the Chinese fishermen whose vessel ran aground in Tubbataha Reef last April 8, the head of the reef's caretaker agency said Monday.
Tubbataha Management Office head Angelique Songco said it is up to the court to allow the Chinese to post bail for their temporary release.
"Nasa jurisdiction (na ito) ng court (It is in the jurisdiction of the court)," Songco said in an interview on dzBB radio, when asked about the chances of the Chinese getting temporary liberty.
The 12 Chinese are now detained at the Palawan Provincial Jail following the April 8 grounding.
Last week, they were charged for poaching and for allegedly trying to bribe park rangers.
Tugboat
Tugboat
Meanwhile, Songco said a tugboat commissioned by the Coast Guard is heading for the reef to help remove the grounded vessel.
"Hopefully by (Tuesday) it will be there," she said.
She cited an earlier report quoting a group of marine ecologists that said the area damaged by the Chinese vessel may have matched the area damaged by the minesweeper USS Guardian.
This was despite the Chinese vessel, which is 48 meters long, being much smaller than the USS Guardian, which is 224 feet (68.275 meters) long.
"Dahil gumalaw siya, hindi tulad ng Guardian which was (fastened) to the reef (It could be because the Chinese vessel's position shifted, unlike the USS Guardian, which was virtually fastened to the reef)," she said.
Songco also said that as of Monday, the weather had improved and the waters at the reef area had calmed. — RSJ, GMA News
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