A 46-year-old fisherman died when a stick of dynamite exploded before he was able to throw it into the waters off the shore of barangay San Vicente in Olango Island yesterday morning.
Marcelo Gerongco, who apparently used dynamite while fishing, did not make it to the hospital alive while his 13-year-old son, who was with him on the boat at the time of the explosion, suffered major burns in the body and is still fighting for his life at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.
Homicide investigator PO3 William Jamoc, in his initial report to the Lapu-Lapu City Police station, said another fisherman Ricardo Porino who was at sea during the incident rescued the Gerongcos from the damaged pump boat.
Authorities said that if the older Gerongco is alive today, he will face charges for violating Republic Act 8550, or the Philippine Fisheries Code, for using explosives in fishing.
Under RA 8550, dynamite fishing is prohibited or the use of fine nets that could catch small fish and fingerlings. — Garry B. Lao/RAE