The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday said it filed charges against several individuals for alleged piracy in Philippine waters.
According to the NBI, it filed charges against several individuals and others for piracy under Article 122 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 7659.
This was after the Hongkong River Engineering Co. sought the assistance of the NBI to recover its vessel M/Tug “ASL Prosper” and to arrest those who illegally seized it.
The NBI said the PENCON8 Salvage Corporation, a local salvage company, allegedly caused the publication of an article claiming that the ASL Prosper is abandoned and a hazard to navigation in November 2024.
Following this, the Hongkong River Engineering Co. informed the District Commander of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Northwestern Luzon that the ASL Prosper is not abandoned and to be wary of individuals mentioning the local salvage company.
The NBI said that despite this, the Sual Pangasinan Station Commander issued an Emergency Salvage Permit in favor of PENCON8.
In December 2024, three individuals boarded the vessel and threatened its crew that cases will be filed against them if they refuse to leave.
In January 2025, authorities received information that the vessel was seen at the Navotas Fishport Complex Pier 4. The PCG substation commander disclosed that M/T Magilas arrived at their port from Sual and had the ASL Prosper in tow.
Later in the same month, authorities found the ASL Prosper hidden by a larger vessel.
According to the NBI, three more individuals were found on board, who said they were connected to a different shipping corporation.
They were arrested after they could not present any evidence to prove that they had authority to possess the vessel.
—VAL, GMA Integrated News
