Ten of the 12 Filipino fishermen of RD Tuna Ventures who led a mutiny in Papua New Guinea (PNG) last August 24 were arrested recently after the Department of Justice (DoJ) ordered their arrest.
Sources from the RD Tuna Ventures disclosed that the arrest was made possible by the firm’s decision to have the mutiny investigated by Philippine courts to save them from the death penalty, which is the punishment of their act under PNG laws. Rodrigo E. Rivera Sr., chairman and chief operations officer of the firm, said that under PNG laws, the 150 Filipino mutineers committed an act of terrorism, which is punishable by death.
The mutineers last August 24 cut off the moorings and took 11 fishing vessels they were manning to the high seas of PNG while shutting off all communications to dramatize their protest and to get recognition of their membership with the International Transport Maritime Workers Federation (ITMWF) which is not allowed under Section 32 of Republic Act 8550, the Overseas Migrant Workers Act of 1995.
RD Tuna invited mutineers for a dialogue, who insisted they should be represented by the ITMWF. The firm, however, refused to recognize the group since it has no personality under Philippine laws.
A week later, when the ITF announced, through the PNG Maritime Workers Union, that it was withdrawing from the dispute, the 150 mutineers agreed to a dialogue after Philippine Ambassador to PNG Bienvenido V. Tejano interceded to break the impasse.