Group seizes fisher's boat

CEBU, Philippines - A local fisherman was questioned yesterday morning by the Talisay City's Fisherman Sea and Ecological Care (FISECA) in the seawaters of barangay Pooc for alleged dynamite fishing.

But FISECA admitted it lacked proof to accuse Bernardo Cañeda, who resides in barangay Tulay, Minglanilla town, as one of those who allegedly employed dynamites to catch fish.

Instead, it seized his pump boat, air compressor, four fishing nets, plastic hose, fins, and other fishing materials.

FISECA's move was in compliance with Mayor Socrates Fernandez's directive which seeks to curtail all destructive fishing practices in the seawaters of Talisay.

Quoting Cañeda, PO2 Wendyl Arañas, duty desk officer of Minglanilla Police Station, said Cañeda was on his to barangay Pooc when FISECA's Dennis Reyes, Joel Vega, and Raymond Caminade seized his pump boat, which is reportedly owned by his sister Perla Cañedo.

Gregorio dela Torre, chief of FISECA, said that while they were doing a coastal cleanup in barangay Biasong, adjacent to Pooc, they received information about fishermen allegedly exploding dynamites.

He said that even while they were in Biasong his men reportedly heard explosions in the area of Pooc.

He sent some of his men to check the area, and when they arrived there they saw fishermen on board three pump boats in the area believed to be where dynamites were exploded.

When the fishermen saw men from FISECA approaching, they fled towards Minglanilla.

FISECA failed to catch any of the fleeing fishermen but dela Torre said his group asked for assistance from the police in Minglanilla, which led to the confiscation of Cañeda's pump boat and fishing gear.  (FREEMAN)