8T worth of blasted fishes seized in Bantayan town

CEBU, Philippines - At least P8,000 worth of blasted fishes abandoned along the shores of Bantayan town  were confiscated by the police and Bantay Dagat members last Wednesday.

The law enforcers also seized two fishing boats, dynamites and other illegal fishing paraphernalia.

The police were tipped off by a concern citizen about the two abandoned pump boats containing illegally caught fishes.

Acting on the information, the police and Bantay Dagat operatives responded to the area in Sitio Mambacayao, Barangay Lipayran and found dynamited fishes worth P1,000 in one pump boat and P7,000 worth in another fishing boat. There were also seven pieces of dynamite, steel rods, and safety matches.

One of the abandoned pump boats was allegedly owned by a certain Dodong Legitimas, resident of Barangay Lipayran. The other pump boat is said to be owned by a resident of Medellin town.

Police Officer 2 Jay Desucatan said the blasted fishes were turned over to the PNP Crime Laboratory in Cebu City for examination.

Desucatan said the owners of the fishing boats will be charged for violation to Republic Act 10654 otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. — Niña Lyka G. Modelo (FREEMAN)