Saying that Filipinos now love in a world with "very complicated international relations," President Duterte on Wednesday released 17 Vietnamese fishermen caught on waters off Ilocos Sur province as a friendly gesture toward Vietnam. The Philippine Navy and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources filed charges of poaching against the Vietnamese fishermen in September. The Navy also confiscated the fishermen's boat. The charges, however, were dismissed by an Ilocos Sur prosecutor in Vigan City. The prosecutor accepted the fishermen's story that they were forced to cross into Philippine territory to avoid Typhoon "Ferdie," according to Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente.

Sotelo, Y. (2016, November 3). Duterte frees 17 viet fishers to boost ties. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A15.