Fishermen from Negros arrested for fishing in municipal waters

CEBU, Philippines - Nine fishermen from Negros Oriental were taken into custody by the Bantayan Police after they were caught illegally fishing within municipal waters last Saturday afternoon.           

Sr. Insp. Jaime Santillan, Bantayan police chief, said he received a report around 5:30 p.m. of a fishing boat seen operating within the municipal waters of Barangay Lipayran, Bantayan Island.

Santillan said his men and a personnel of  the Department of Agriculture immediately sailed out and saw the fishing boat, F/B Glory of the Sea.

According to republic act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, fishing in municipal waters and in all bays using active fishing gears is strictly prohibited. Provincial Ordinance 2012-05 also prohibits fishing activities in municipal waters within the province’s jurisdiction.

The responding team then took into custody all the crew of the fishing boat, reportedly owned by a certain Johnny Espinosa.

Now detained are Larry Marfa, 39, boat captain, Herbert Enriquez, 41, machine operator and the rest of the crew members;  Angelito Abrasaldo, 40; Alemar Sinugbuhan, 21; Jimmy Espinoza, 24; Allan Ornido Jr.,25; Rowel Lotrago, 22; Nestobon Espinosa, 24; Antonio Espinosa, 28. All are residents of Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

At least 20 basins of assorted fish worth P30,000 were confiscated from the fishing boat.

Santillan said that the tabs of fish were distributed to the church, hospitals, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, fire station, birthing homes and poor residents of the town.

Apart from fishing in municipal waters, the fishermen allegedly used fine mesh fishing nets, which is also prohibited.

Santillan said they will be filing the appropriate charges against the detained fishermen this week. (FREEMAN)