CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union – Seventeen fishermen from Portside, Sual, Pangasinan were arrested while conducting illegal fishing activities along the coast of Caba, La Union yesterday.
La Union police director Senior Superintendent Franklin Bucayu said the fishermen, led by the boat captain identified as Roger Flomentera, were using the prohibited fine mesh nets when they were caught by policemen headed by Inspector Bernabe Oribello.
Responding policemen confiscated hundreds of kilos of various kinds of fish stocked inside their fishing boat, Princess Kate 1.
The boat owners are identified as Nestor de la Cruz and Roy Olasiman, both residents of Portside.
Bucayu said the fishermen were arrested through the help of villagers who tipped off policemen regarding their illegal activity.
The fishermen now are under temporary custody of the Caba police prior to the filing of charges for violating the Fishery Code of the Philippines. – Jun Elias