Contractor cries foul over 'dynamite fisher' tag

CEBU, Philippines - A contractor who rendered voluntary works for the beautification of Osmeña Boulevard’s Capitol-Fuente stretch in Cebu City, cries foul over reports imputing him as a dynamite fisher.

Engr. Romeo Villaceran, of Rovilla Construction, complained against Cebu City Bantay Dagat project director Ranulfo Sebusa who identified him as the shipper of alleged dynamited fish seized at the Pasil Fish Market last week.

The Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission, along with the examiner of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 7, confiscated 480 kilos of allegedly dynamited “tuloy” (sardines) placed inside eight boxes and four large basins which came from Bantayan Island.

Sebusa identified Villaceran as the shipper while the consignees at Pasil were Hildo Salazar and Roy Espina.

Aside from being a contractor, Villaceran also owns RAV Fishing with two purse seiner fishing vessels registered in Bacolod City and is operating in the Visayan Sea.

During the regular spot inspection at the Pasil Fish Market, Villaceran said that of the 342 large basins loaded in his truck, inspectors only found four basins believed to be caught through dynamite fishing.

Villaceran said it was impossible for those suspected blasted fishes to belong to him as their catch are directly shipped to Pasil Fish Market from Hagnaya, San Remegio.

“Imposible kaayo kay kahibawo gyud ko nga way dinamita sa akong panagatan, (It is impossible because I know that we do not do dynamite fishing),” Villaceran told The FREEMAN.

For almost two years of delivering fish in Cebu City, Villaceran said he was never apprehended for illegal fishing.

He questioned why he was singled out by Sebusa as the only shipper when the photograph in a newspaper (not The FREEMAN), showed that dynamited fish are placed in a box while those from him were placed in basins marked “ROVILLA.”

Villaceran is set to file a formal complaint against Sebusa and BFAR monitoring control and surveillance staff Nathaniel Lucero for allegedly maliciously tainting his name.

Villaceran is one of the contractors who responded to the call of The Beautiful Cebu Movement Foundation Inc., spearheaded by businesswoman Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, to help in realizing every Cebuano’s dream of having a beautiful and clean Cebu. He was one of those who heeded the request of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

A resident of Madridejos town in Bantayan Island, Villaceran is the president of commercial fishing operators in northern Cebu who strongly supports the anti-illegal fishing campaign of the Province.

A recipient of The Ten Outstanding Cebuano Award (TOCA), Villaceran is also reportedly vying for the Entrepreneur Award of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (FREEMAN)