11 commercial fishing boat crew arrested in Dalaguete

CEBU, Philippines - A group of fishermen was apprehended for illegal fishing in the seawaters of Dalaguete town early morning yesterday.

A report that reached the Cebu Provincial Police Office said that boat captain Marlo Mosqueda, resident of Bunawon, Siaton, Negros Oriental and his 10 crew members were on board commercial fishing vessel “Danika” and were caught fishing within the municipal waters which is prohibited under the law.

The crew of the motorized boat together with the 20 kilograms of “Tamarong” fish that they have caught were turned over to Dalaguete Police Station in the presence of Felicitas Lenares, head of the Municipal Aquatic Natural Resource Office (MANRO) of the municipality.

The Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, prohibits commercial fishing within the 15-kilometer municipal water limits.

However, police said the group was released about an hour after Mosqueda, captain and owner of the boat, paid P11,000 as fine for the violation they committed.

PO3 Christopher Requina told The FREEMAN that Mosqueda claimed they have no idea about the existing law. — THE FREEMAN