The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) flagged four foreign-named yachts that were allegedly illegally moored at a private pier of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) in Manila on Thursday, Aug. 19.
The PCG identified the yachts as Yue Hai Ming Zhu, Gu Cheng Gang Guan, Le Boss, and Yuzhen 8 which were found to be moored at the MICT from Aug. 18 to 19 without the necessary papers.
Joint units from the PCG, Bureau of Customs' Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (BOC-CIIS), and Port of Manila conducted a law enforcement operation to inspect the yacht after authorities noticed them illegally moored at the MICT.
The PCG found out that the yachts were owned by a certain Cristo Uy, a Chinese Filipino national who arrived in Manila from Boracay.
The yachts were being operated by six Filipino crew members identified as Angelo Casimero, Jerryco Magno, Rio Mar Hormillosa, Albert Casimero, Christian Joy Blancaflor, and Banadicto Calinyao.
However, during the inspection, the crew couldn't present the needed documents about the registration of the yachts which would allow them to stay at the private pier.
According to PCG, the crew members claimed that Uy is the secretary of the corporation that manages the subject yachts.
"The said motor yachts were recently bought by the owner. However, necessary documents were not included in recent transactions,” the PCG noted.
The BOC CISS has drafted an official report to request customs district collector at the Port of Manila to issue a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) of the four yachts.