Capitol task force seizes 44 boxes of blasted fish

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force seized 44 boxes of sardines or herring fish locally known as “tabagak” or “tamban-tuloy” believed to have been caught in dynamite fishing.

A composite team of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, 78th Infantry Battalion and Philippine National Police conducted a checkpoint on the national highway in Barangay Cot-cot, Liloan following a call from an unknown tipster.

Task force field operation officer Joefrey Merencillo said the informant reported that an Isuzu Elf marked with “Kumander” left in the area somewhere in the northern Cebu at 8:00 in the morning yesterday loaded with boxes of blasted fish.

The task force immediately conducted the checkpoint and flagged down the subject truck at around 11:00 in the morning. The truck was brought to the Capitol parking lot.

The yellow for hire truck has a plate number YGH 264 and marked with E. Borromeo as operator. The boxes containing the blasted fish were marked with “K-Ren.”

BFAR fish examiner Elvie Flores said some samples were found to be blasted and others were not. She however said these are still safe for human consumption.

Merencillo said that fishery law provides that if there are samples found to be positive, the rest shall be presumed positive.

He said they also got information that other two trucks passed by ahead before the checkpoint was set up.

A female who refused to be named said she just bought the fish in barangays Kawit and Mahawak in Medellin town at P1,000 per box and hired the truck at P4,500.

She said she was not aware how the fishes were caught as she just bought it to deliver at the Pasil Fish Market in Cebu City.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office was tasked to distribute the seized fish to charitable institutions including the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.

The National Bureau of Investigation, which is also a member of the task force, will be the one to determine who will be charged in court. (FREEMAN)