19 illegal fishers caught in Daanbantayan

CEBU, Philippines - Approximately 250 kilos of assorted kinds of fish worth more than P20,000 were seized by the Bantay Dagat and the Daanbantayan police from 19 illegal fishers in the seawaters of Barangay Carnasa, Daanbantayan Thursday afternoon.

Illegal fishers were onboard commercial fishing vessel RS2 Rodjard when arrested for violating Section 90 of RA 8550 or The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 around 4:00p.m.

Arrested was boat captain Eddie Carmelo Catalonia, 46, of Bantayan Island. Also from Bantayan was Cirilo Ybañez, 52; Adelelmo de la Peña, 41; Rolando Espina, 32; Santiago Escala, 34; Jacinto Jiangzon, 40; Senin Tiongzon, 24; Julius Sena, 29; Junmar Santillan, 23; Victor Espina, 32; Melo Desucatan, 26; Roger Destoja, 29; Romeo Pasicaran, 31; Edito Soriba, 47;  and Wilfredo Sena, 39.

Others arrested were from San Remigio town - Ramon Baterna, 27; Florante Santillan, 31 and Joseph Cordova, 28 - as well as Aquino Jumawan, 29, of Madridejos town.

Aside from the kilos of fish, confiscated from them was the fishing vessel and assorted fishing paraphernalia including equipment that could destroy the coral reefs.

PO3 Alfredo Mandal, investigator, said the suspects were caught using an active gear.

Section 90 of RA 8550 states that engaging in fishing in municipal waters and in all bays as well as other fishery management areas using active fishing gears shall be unlawful.

Suspects also violated the Resolution No. 98-103 of Municipal Ordinance No. 98-02 or “Prohibiting and Banning of Hulbot-Hulbot Methods of Fishing” within the 15-kilometer area from the shores of Daanbantayan.

“Nakit-an man gud ni sila sa taga Bantay Dagat nga about seven kilometers away from the shoreline of Daanbantayan,” Mandal said. (Authorities saw them fishing seven kilometers away from the shoreline.)

Police will be filing the case for RA 8550 against the suspects today at the Regional Trial Court in Bogo City.  (FREEMAN)