Task Force seizes boxes of blasted fish

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force seized 12 more boxes of illegally caught fish in Barangay Cotcot, Lilo-an over the weekend.

It was the second apprehension made by the provincial task force in four days. The group headed by Jeofrey Merencillo also seized 40 boxes of dynamited fish with an estimated value of P200,000 last Wednesday.

Merencillo said they started setting up the checkpoint in Lilo-an last Saturday evening until yesterday. According to Merencillo, a certain Raymund Tatoy from Bantayan Island was flagged down by them Saturday evening and found him transporting five boxes of illegally caught fish.

He said seven more boxes were confiscated yesterday from Resty Buenavista and Allan Cano.

Buenavista came from Kawit, Medellin and was transporting 40 boxes of fish, five boxes of which were believed to be blasted fish. Cano’s truck on the other hand was loaded with 36 boxes of fish but two boxes were found to be dynamited.

Merencillo estimated the total cost of the confiscated fish at P24,000. The confiscated boxes of fish were donated to a home for the aged in Danao City, Poor Claire Monastery in Consolacion and at the Sisters of Mary Complex in Minglanilla and Talisay City. — (FREEMAN)