5 arrested for fishing in sanctuary

SIBULAN, NEGROS ORIENTAL, Philippines — Five fishermen were arrested Wednesday morning by the police and Bantay Dagat operatives for illegal fishing inside a marine sanctuary at Barangay Agan-an in Sibulan town.

Police report said the authorities were conducting a sea patrol and caught the five suspects, identified as Bukak Guba, Nely Hanani, Sangli Sahi, Jimmy Gantanagan and Junrey Dumay, residents of Dauis town in Bohol.

Confiscated during the apprehension were two Honda engines, 38 kilos of assorted fish, a compressor machine tank, a pumpboat, a 40-meter pressure hose, five improvised flippers, three styro boxes, five fishing spears, and four underwater flashlights.

The suspects are now detained at the Sibulan Police lock-up cell. (FREEMAN)