Illegal fishing campaign Group dared to work with Capitol

CEBU, Philippines - The provincial government has challenged the environment group that has opposed the dumping of coal ash in Naga to join Capitol in its campaign against illegal fishing.

Capitol consultant and spokesperson Rory John Sepulveda said that while the group had vigorously opposed the coal ash, it seemed to have gotten silent in the issue of illegal fishing in the province.

Sepulveda said that if the group is sincere in protecting the environment, it should not be selective in its advocacies.

The group has opposed that the coal from power plants in Naga be dumped at the controversial Balili property that the provincial government has purchased.

“This should have been their opportune time to join and participate in the meetings of the task force,” Sepulveda said.  

The province’s task force against illegal fishing has had seized truckloads of endangered species of corals and shells in Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City.

The task force is composed of several government agencies and law enforcement agencies like the National Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, as well as local government units.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia formed the task force to launch Capitol’s all-out war against illegal fishing throughout the province of Cebu.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 joined the task force just recently.

No one was arrested during the operation in Barangay Punta Engaño, but the corals were found loaded in an abandoned truck. The operation was undertaken by joint team of the NBI, BFAR, 78th Infantry Battalion, Capitol personnel and Naval Forces Central.

BFAR-7 representative estimated the seized corals at 1.450 tons, one of which was identified as Heliopora specy or blue coral which syrup extract is used as ingredient in making “bubble tea” drink and also being used in tropical aquarium.

Also seized were some shells of endangered species such as helmet shell or budyong and triton or trumpet shell or tambuli.

Garcia encouraged the team to continue its operations while the provincial government is always there to support logistically. — (FREEMAN)