TACLOBAN CITY – The six aliens who were earlier arrested by authorities for illegal fishing in Philippine waters are complaining not only of being homesick but also fro suffering from different ailments and having no money for their daily needs.

Speaking through an interpreter, Chuii Koc Cheng, 36, a native of mainland China, told Leyte Samar Daily Express that aside from emotional depression, they also have to endure various ailments that they got since they were detained at their own fishing vessel, Chun Long, which is docked at the port area here.

The vessel was apprehended last July off the coast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar for poaching by elements of the Philippine Cost Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-8).

Aside from Cheng, also detained in the fishing vessel were Liu Chia Ha, 36; Tang Chun Cheng, 31; and Yang Chi Seng, 26; See Koc Chuan, 30, all natives of mainland China. Joni Deki, 28, was the lone Indonesian in the group.

“We want to go home to visit to our families. We missed them so much,” Cheng said through Pedro Antig, a resident here who is of Chinese descent.

Cheng said that since their arrest, almost all of them suffered different illness that needs some medical medication. Aside from homesickness, the detained fishermen had suffered chest pains, loss bowel movement, and fever.

He said their chief captain Chen Yu Yee and his assistant Chai Shen San had left for their homeland in Taiwan.

Yee was aid to be the financier of the group.

It was learned from the arrested fishermen that the two were able to leave the country more than two weeks ago because they posted bail in the amount of P60, 000 and P30, 000 for the ship captain and his assistant.

Before leaving, Yee gave each of the six fishermen P1, 000 each.

The government through the BFAR had earlier filed criminal case against the aliens. The reaming six fishermen are to face the court again on December 7, said to be the last day of hearing of their case.

With nobody to turn to, the group wanted to sell the fish they have caught before they were apprehended. The fishermen said the money they cold raise would be used by tem to buy food and other needs.

Antig told Express that the group still has with them about 40 pieces of blue marlin which are worth thousands of pesos. A kilo of blue-marlin costs P150, he added.

The group, however, has still to ask a permit to sell their catch from the BFAR-8 office.