Abad’s wife vows to block Taiwan fish pact

Deputy Speaker Henedina Abad of Batanes, wife of Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, has vowed to block any fishing agreement between the Philippines and Taiwan unless the Aquino administration will earmark funding for strict border control in the fishing waters in her province against Taiwanese poachers.

Abad was referring to the fisheries pact that Taiwan is pushing for with the Philippines when the two parties met in June. Under that agreement, the Philippines would impose a P2.16-million ($50,000) administrative penalty if no case was filed against the Taiwanese fishermen caught fishing in the waters off Balintang Chanel.