Task Force seizes blasted fish

CEBU, Philippines - An estimated 200 kilos of blasted fish worth almost P15,000 were confiscated by the Task Force Kalikasan of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office yesterday afternoon following reports from task force personnel at the Caubian Islet.

Fishes classified as Danggit, Yellow Fin Tuna, and Pagispis were confiscated from Nilo Talimping, 38, a resident of Barangay Punta Engaño, where he was also apprehended.

Talimping is now detained at the LCPO stockade pending charges for violation of RA 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

SPO1 Joemar Ybañez, the task force chief, said they received a call at around 1:30 in the afternoon from the islet informing them of dynamite fishing in the area and that the motor banca was heading towards Lapu-Lapu City.

Ybañez said they intercepted the motor banca in Barangay Punta Engaño where they confiscated the fishes.

He said they confiscated around 50 kilos of Danggit and is estimated to be worth P200 per kilo. The Yellow Fin Tuna was about 25 kilos and worth P90 per kilo while the Pagispis was 20 kilos and worth P80 per kilo.

The blasted fish were supposed to be transported to the Lapu-Lapu City public market.

Talimping, a fish buyer, said he bought the fish from a certain Pilo who did the dynamite fishing in Caubian.

Ybañez, a licensed fish examiner, told The FREEMAN that he examined the internal organs of the fish to verify if it was dynamited.

He said the vertical colon of the fish was broken and bloodied with a damaged ear bladder filled with blood inside the lumen and blood vessels had internal hemorrhage.

The fishes were divided among the residents of Barangay Punta Engaño, to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, as well as to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

 Ybañez said they will be conducting surveillance in the islet to arrest Pilo. —(FREEMAN)