CEBU, Philippines - A barangay captain and 20 of his crew were arrested for fishing in the municipal waters of Barangay Gawi, Oslob town at 1 am yesterday.
The joint operation of the Maritime Police and the Bantay Dagat officials in Oslob led to the arrest of the boat captain, 60-year-old Tanieto Luardo who is also the barangay captain of the nearby Barangay Suba, Samboan town.
Aside from Luardo, his crew was also apprehended along with Jimmy Salcedo, the motor engineer.
PO2 Allan Villasurda of Oslob Police Station said the suspects were onboard the motorboat F/V San Antonio.
Based on the investigation, the arresting officers were doing their usual sea roving patrol when they spotted the motorboat fishing in the waters of Samboan which is covered by a municipal ordinance.
Villasurda said the suspects did not resist arrest.
Found in the motorboat were four big basins of assorted fishes like small tamarongs, amag, tulingan, and tabilong, among others.
Villasurda said the arresting officers are still looking into the possibility of holding them liable for violation of Republic Act 8550 or the Fish Conservation Law.
“But most probably ma-penalize lang na sila through the municipal ordinance,” he said, adding that the suspects were not detained.
Villasurda said the barangay captain is a fisherman and had been fishing in Samboan waters but allegedly failed to notice yesterday that they were already in the municipal waters of Oslob.
“Mao man g’yud na pirme nila i-rason, (That’s their usual reason.)” the police officer said.
As of yesterday afternoon, the suspects were still at the police station while Bantay Dagat officials were preparing for the possible charges against them.
Villasurda said the motorboat was also temporarily impounded. — (FREEMAN)