MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) discovered thirteen undocumented Chinese aboard the dredger vessel Harvest 89, which was anchored in Mariveles, Bataan, on Tuesday.
The PCG said the discovery raised questions about the vessel’s activities and the origins of its crew.
The operation unfolded after the vessel’s agent informed the PCG that Harvest 89 was preparing to depart for its next port of call in San Felipe, Zambales, to conduct dredging operations.
As part of standard protocol, the PCG attempted to board the vessel to conduct a Pre-Departure Inspection and secure the required Master’s Declaration of Safe Departure (MDSD). However, the agent denied access, asserting that all documentation was in order. This refusal prompted heightened scrutiny by the Coast Guard Substation in Limay, Bataan.
Upon gaining access, the PCG inspection team initially found nine Chinese who lacked proper documentation. The vessel’s crew manifest listed only eight Filipino crew members, raising immediate red flags.
A subsequent inspection uncovered four additional undocumented Chinese individuals hiding on board, bringing the total to thirteen.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the PCG discovered a uniform resembling that of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) among the items on the vessel. This has intensified concerns about the nature and intent of the undocumented individuals.
The names of the Chinese, aged 40 to 59, have been released, though their roles on the vessel remained unclear. Authorities are now working to determine how the undocumented individuals boarded the vessel and whether there is a larger issue at play.
The PCG is collaborating with other government agencies to further investigate the case. Legal measures are being pursued to ensure accountability, and the undocumented individuals remain under the custody of authorities.
