CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – Police arrested at least 20 people, including the two boat captains, for illegal fishing in the sea off Barangay Cobrador in Romblon Saturday morning.
Police seized 5,100 kilos of fish worth at least P.2 million, two commercial boats – Ella Rose 1 and Ella Rose 2 – and fishing paraphernalia.
Senior Inspector Sonia Baylosis Gaviana, Romblon police town chief, said the 18 crew members and the two captains – Johnny Moralde and Rogelio Buhisan – were charged for violation of Republic Act 8550. They were detained at the Romblon police station.
The confiscated fish were donated to the provincial jail, hospital and other barangays, according to Giavana.
The suspects were apprehended by combined elements of Romblon operatives led by Gaviana and the barangay police under Councilor Roel Royo of Barangay Agtongo at around 4:30 a.m.
Gaviana said they received a text message from a Barangay Information Network (BIN) agent that two commercial boats from Negros were spotted fishing illegally in the area. The police immediately conducted an operation. – Ed Amoroso