ILOILO CITY ,Philippines – Operatives of the Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force seized a fishing boat on Saturday near Anhawan Island in the town of Concepcion town, not for illegal fishing but for carrying P1 million worth of fuel without proper documents.
Bantay Dagat chief, SPO1 Gilbert Piedad, said the fishing boat, named F/B Prince Carl owned by Roque Aurelio of Barangay Bayuyan, Estancia, Iloilo was loaded with 120 drums of diesel fuel that amounted to P1 million. He said they spotted the vessel along Anhawan Island while conducting routine patrol operations and chased it after noticing suspicious cargoes in it.
Piedad said the boat captain Ali Agustin, also of Barangay Bayuyan, Estancia, failed to present documents, such as delivery receipt, purchase order or cashier’s invoice, pertaining to his boat’s cargoes prompting the team to apprehend and impound the fishing boat in Concepcion town.
He said Agustin told him that they took the 120 drums of fuel from a Korean vessel named Yan Sei and each drum contains 200 liters of “first class” diesel fuel.
The boat captain also allegedly claimed he was not aware of his boss’ transaction since he was only directed to meet the Korean vessel in the middle of the sea going to Dumangas, Iloilo.
Agustin reportedly disclosed that the Korean vessel had two Filipino crew in it.
Meanwhile, authorities are still trying to check the identity of the Korean vessel and locate the owner of the apprehended fishing boat.
Piedad said the apprehended boat engaged in “paihi” or the illegal pilfering of fuel in the high seas, adding that they had received reports that the “paihi” system is rampant in the seawaters of northern Iloilo. He even recalled that in April, they had also intercepted an abandoned vessel loaded with 12 drums of fuel in Bayas, Ajuy town.
According to him, the owner and crew of Prince Carl could be liable for violation of Batas Pambasa Bilang 33 otherwise known as “An Act defining and penalizing certain prohibitive acts inimical to the public interest and national security involving petroleum and/or petroleum products, prescribing penalties therefore and for other purposes.”
Piedad said they are now preparing appropriate charges against the owner and crew of F/B Prince Carl while the confiscated drums of fuel would be turned over to the government./WAB