The Chinese government on Friday sought the immediate release of nine Chinese fishermen who have already served their six-month prison term for poaching in the Philippine-claimed Hasa-Hasa Shoal in May last year. Provincial Prosecutor Allen Ross Rodriguez told the Inquirer that a ranking official of the Chinese embassy met with lawyers of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) in Palawan, which handled the legal defense for their nationals, to ask government lawyers to demand the release of the Chinese detainees. Their six-month penalty lapsed on Thursday.

Anda, R. D. (2015, May 16). China demands release of 9 Sino fishermen who have served time. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A13.