Illegally-caught fish confiscated

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force scored anew yesterday when it apprehended 40 boxes of illegally caught fish with estimated amount of P200,000.

CPAIFTF field coordinator Jeofrey Merencillo said they established a checkpoint at the national highway in Barangay Cot-cot, Liloan since Tuesday evening but the information they got turned out negative.

This prompted them to field another team yesterday morning, which resulted to the apprehension of two trucks from Hagnaya Port in San Remegio and Medellin.

The first truck driven by a certain Ricari Canillo was loaded with 148 boxes of assorted fish from Palawan, but docked at Hagnaya Port.

Fish examiners Nathaniel Lucero and Auxterio Cabangbang found that 30 of the boxes contained fish suspected to be caught by illegal fishing.

Merencillo said the other truck driven by a certain Delfin Noynay tried to evade the checkpoint by passing through a diversion road that leads straight to Jubay, Liloan but elements of the Maritime Police chased and accosted the vehicle. The truck was found loaded with 31 boxes of locally known fish “tamban-tuloy” with 10 of the boxes containing fish caught by dynamite fishing from Medellin town.

In the absence of auxiliary receipts, Merencillo said the first driver only identified the recipient as a certain “Julius” while the second driver identified the recipient as a certain “Alaw.” Both recipients are reportedly operates in the Pasil Fish Market in Cebu City.

Expect from seizing the fish, Merencillo admitted they could not charge anyone in court. He said it is unfair to charge the drivers because they did not know that the items were illegal. The seized fish were distributed to different charitable institutions yesterday. — (FREEMAN)