Daanbantayan Vice Mayor Maria Luisa Loot lashed out elements of Philippine Navy and National Bureau of Investigation for turning over illegal fishermen operating in her town to another town.
Loot said over Bantay Radyo that she got a report that Navy and NBI operatives apprehended alleged illegal fishers at the marine sanctuary in Gato Islet but brought them to the municipality of Sta. Fe.
Gato Islet is one of the dive sites belonging to Daanbantayan.
Loot said the Navy and NBI should have turned over the apprehended illegal fishers to Daanbantayan so the municipality can impose corresponding penalty and the fines will go to the coffers of the municipal government.
Loot also blamed Visayan Sea Squadron head Antonio Oposa, who hails from Sta. Fe, for the trouble.
Under a signed agreement between the squadron and the province, the Visayan Sea Squadron, Navy and NBI will coordinate with the local government unit where it will operate.
Loot has requested Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to revoke the memorandum of agreement signed during the term of former Gov. Pablo Garcia saying that there is already a change of administration and the governor and some mayors in the municipalities and cities are new. —Gregg M. Rubio/BRP