PCG probes ‘undocumented’ Chinese crew of PH dredging vessel

Manila: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is investigating a Philippine-flagged dredging vessel with six purportedly undocumented Chinese crew members. In an incident report Monday, the PCG said MV Sangko Uno, a hopper dredger ship, was anchored at Navotas Port on Sunday when they received a report alleging that the ship's crew were undocumented Chinese. A PCG response team confirmed that there were five Chinese nationals and one Filipino-Chinese national aboard the ship. The crew claimed their legal documents and passports were with their company office. 'The PCG has collected relevant documents, including the crew list, ship's logbook, and other available records for investigation purposes. If found guilty of violating Philippine immigration laws, the concerned crew will undergo deportation process,' it said. The PCG has coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration to assist in verifying the legal status of the ship's crew. 'Moreover, there shall be inquiries regarding the company's legal obligations to the concerned crew who were not declared on the crew list. If found guilty of violating maritime and immigration regulations, the company will face appropriate fines or penalties,' it said. The PCG is also coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy for diplomatic communication. Source: Philippines News agency