Town officials accused of illegal fishing

CEBU – Close to 1,000 fishermen of the island barangay of Carnasa in Daanbantayan town asked the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to look into the rampant illegal fishing activities in their place and alleged involvement of some local officials.

Carnasa barangay captain Joe Moreno visited the Office of Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol to personally lodge his complaint for the rampant illegal fishing activities in his place and its danger to the livelihood of the residents in his barangay.

Moreno said the residents of the barangay forwarded a petition to the members of the Municipal Council of Daanbantayan but they failed to act on their request. According to Moreno, they also lodged the same complaint with different national government agencies concerned to no avail.

“Daghan na kaayo kami ug gidangpan niining among problema, apan wala gayud aksyon nga gihimo ang mga natungdan nga buhatan,” Moreno said.

Moreno further said that the presence of these bigtime fishermen in their place threaten the future of the small fishermen. 

The FREEMAN received reports that one of the owners of these fishing boats engaged in illegal fishing using those a technique locally known as “hulbot-hulbot” is a barangay official of a neighboring town.

Moreno recalled that last year he was able to arrest some men involved in illegal fishing activities, but the police in Daanbantayan town showed no interest.

“Makita nimo nga murag bugnaw kaayo ang ilang pagtabang nato nga unta ilabi man kini nga gimbuhaton,” Moreno said.

The barangay captain hopes the Ombudsman will look into the involvement of government official in these illegal activities. 

He also said that while he intensified the campaign against illegal fishing, he was unjustly tagged as their protector.

“Kining tanang binuhatan sa mga tawo nga kita nakigbatok gayud sa illegal fishing,” Moreno added. Aside from the Ombudsman, Moreno also asked Capitol officials for help. — Jose P. Sollano/BRP (THE FREEMAN)