Police arrest illegal fishers

CEBU, Philippines - Seven fishermen were arrested after they were caught fishing in the municipal waters of Tuburan using an illegal fishing device late Friday night.

PO3 Junyl Ater of the Tuburan Police Station said the suspects were Giovani Dacumos, 40; Alcher Peras, 33; Rodel Inoc, 18; Dario Comabig, 40; Dominador Pojas, 33; Eddie Sumalinog, 47; and Elvis Arcebar, 40. The suspects are all residents of the nearby town of Balamban.

Tuburan police and Bantay Dagat personnel were conducting their usual seaborne patrol within the municipal waters of Tuburan when they chanced upon the said fishermen fishing in the waters of Barangay Antipolo at past 10 p.m.

The suspects were actually caught fishing using compressors, an illegal fishing device that makes fishes, including the small ones, dizzy, making them easy prey.

The suspects were taken to the police station.

Police also seized the suspects’ motorized boat, compressor machine, 70-meter hose, flashlights, and goggles.

By 10 a.m. yesterday, Ater said, the suspects were released after the boat’s owner, Elorde Jayme, paid P27,000 as fine.

The fishing paraphernalia were also handed back to the suspects, Ater said.

“Nimulta sila but gi-warningan namo na arestuhon na g’yud namo sila ug ikiha kung madakpan sila og utro,” the police officer further said. (They were released but with a stern warning against committing the same offense again.) —/JPM (FREEMAN)