New Bantay Dagat head to reorganize

CEBU, Philippines - Newly-installed Cebu City Bantay Dagat project director Ranulfo Sebusa yesterday announced that he will reorganize the members of the Bantay Dagat task force and revive the implementation of “market denial” by confiscating all illegally-caught fish products.

Sebusa, who used to be assigned to the PNP Maritime District-7 before his retirement a few years ago, is committed to improving the image of the Bantay Dagat Task Force by intensifying the campaign against the illegal fishers.

Even if he knows that former Bantay Dagat project director Elpidio “Jojo” dela Victoria was killed in 2004 because of his active campaigning against the illegal fishermen and the dealers of illegally-caught fish products, Sebusa said “Dili ko mahadlok kay naanad na ko sa hulga og part na sa trabaho.”

When asked regarding rumors that some of the Bantay Dagat personnel are reportedly involved in illegal activities, Sebusa said he will not hesitate to kick them out if these accusations are proven true.

Sebusa said he will also ask Mayor Michael Rama to provide additional civilian personnel for the Bantay Dagat Task Force to make them more effective in their tasks that includes cleaning the shorelines of Cebu City.

At present, the Bantay Dagat Task Force has only five civilian personnel from City Hall detailed to the unit. Aside from them, the Bantay Dagat task force is augmented by two personnel from the Maritime Police, two from the Philippine Coast Guard and another two from the Cebu City Police Office.

Sebusa replaced retired colonel Cesar Enriquez who resigned as Bantay Dagat project director after he learned that the mayor was not satisfied with his performance for the past six years.

Enriquez, used to be the operations officer of the now-defunct Armed Forced Visayas Command (now AFP Central Command) based in Camp Lapu-Lapu. It was former mayor Tomas Osmeña who told him to assume the position of Bantay Dagat project director after the murder of Dela Victoria. –/BRP (FREEMAN)