Blasted fish worth P27T seized at checkpoint

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force confiscated 540 kilos of “blasted” fish worth P27,000 at a checkpoint in Poblacion, Carmen last Thursday night.

The 540 kilos of blasted fish were contained in four boxes, which were loaded in a truck together with 20 other boxes of different species of fish from Masbate.

CPAIFTF head Marcelo Go said the truck was on its way to the Pasil Fish Market in Cebu City. The boxes of fish entered the province through the Pulambato Port in Bogo City in the north.

Carmen is five towns away from Bogo City.  Go said fish examiner Rodelio Codilla confirmed the four boxes of fish were blasted.

Codilla was with other task force members Maximiano Hontanisas, Artimio Delfin and three others, as well as with other two policemen from Cebu City Police Office.

The truck was impounded while driver Jumar Golosino and truck boy Roel Descarten “were taken to Capitol to give substantial details before they can be let-off,” Go said.

Golosino and Descarten are both from Hagnaya, San Remigio.

Go said they will submit a report to the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Adjudication Board (FARAB) so that a formal investigation can be opened and appropriate penalty can be imposed.

“Silay (FARAB) mu-determine if mag-file og kaso or dili,” Go said.

He warned that the task force will continue to be on guard against those who violate the law.

“Tigilan na nila ang (illegal) panghuhuli nila dahil hanggang nasa Capitol ako mahuhuli at mahuhuli namin sila. Hindi man ngayon kundi bukas o makalawa,” said CPAIFTF head Marcelo Go.

Under the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, violators may be fined up to P200,000 or five times the value of the species of fish caught, whichever is higher.

Violators who will be convicted of the crime may face jail time for two years and may be fined up to P500,000. The fish will be confiscated and the violator’s license may be suspended, revoked.

Go said the four boxes of fish seized in Carmen will be donated to charitable institutions in Cebu City.

CPAIFTF scored victories in apprehending the transport and trade of fish caught illegally within two consecutive months of last year.

Last December, nine out of 28 containers carrying “blasted” fish were confiscated also in Carmen while 480 kilos of dynamited fish were caught in Liloan town. The fish confiscated in the two operations is worth P177,240. — Friensy G. Larawan, USJ-R Intern/JMO (FREEMAN)