Philippines frees9 Chinese fishermen

        MANILA:

The PHILIPPINES has freed nine   Chinese
fishermen convicted of poaching endangered
sea turtles after they completed one year jail
terms,officials said yesterday,

The nine arrested in disputed waters in May
last year, were jailed  after they  failed to pay
fine of US100,000 each for poaching and an
additional US$2,552 each for catching  an
endangered species,

"They were treated well ,The had what other
prisoners were eating ,Chinese businessmen
were allowed to bring them food like noodles",
Raul Mapa a Jail officer in Puerto Princesa,where
the prisoners  jailed said,

A local court issued a release order late on
Monday at the request of the fishermen 's lawyer
in accordance with procedure,,acting clerk
of the court Lourdes Dadule said

Police said the  found hundreds of sea turtles,
protected under Philippines law ,on the group's
15 tonne boat at  Half Moon shoal, located
on the eastern edge of the Spratly  Islands chain
claimed by both the Philippines and China,
The shoal is 111km west of Palawan island
which Philippines authorities said was with
in the country 's 200 nautical-mile exclusive
economic zone,

The Chinese  prisoners were released to
Philippine immigration officials in Puerto
Princesa ,a city on Palawan ,on Tuesday night
Mapa said ,
AFP