Four Vietnamese caught in the act of using sodium cyanide in fishing which is prohibited by Philippine laws were collared by the joint forces of the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy and Philippine National Police-Maritime Group in Pag-Asa Island, Palawan a belated report from the PCG on Tuesday said.

The joint maritime law enforcement team also intercepted their fishing vessel locally known as sampan, a small boat commonly used in East Asia, typically with an oar or oars at the stern, equipped with a compressor.

The fishermen were informed that they violated Sections 91 and 92 of Republic Act 10654 or the "Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998."

Moreover, the PCG Dental Service-Palawan conducted a panoramic examination and confirmed that one of the four apprehended Vietnamese fishermen was a minor, specifically around 16 to 18 years old.

As of 3 October 2022, the four fishermen remained under the custody of the PCG District Palawan for further investigation and proper disposition, with assistance from the PCG Station Kalayaan and PCG Legal Unit-Palawan.

The use of cyanide in fishing is prohibited in the country, as the chemical kills coral polyps and algae, turning many coral reefs — the "rainforests of the oceans" — into marine deserts.

It is said that a square meter of the reef is destroyed for every live fish caught using cyanide, according to the International Marine Life Alliance of the Philippines.