Bantayan curbs illegal fishing “Duterte-style”

CEBU, Philippines - To show that the local government is serious in its fight against illegal fishing, Bantayan Mayor Ian Christopher Escario said they do it “Duterte-style.”

“Di man gud na motuo kung imo lang badlungon, kung kinahanglan pabuthan, pabuthan. Di ba di nana mamalik. Ayaw lang sad ig-a,” said Escario to the illegal fishers.

Escario hinted that he follows the governance of Davao City Mayor Ramon Duterte who is known for his strict leadership as well as Puerto Princesa’s Mayor Edward Hagedorn. He said their kind of governance showing political will is the reason why their respective localities have progressed.

In Bantayan, Escario admitted that illegal fishing is one of their problems.

He explained that they may only have three Bantay Dagat personnel which roams around their 3,000-hectares of municipal waters, but they still make it a point to arrest anyone caught fishing illegally.

He said if only the barangays would help them arrest the culprits, they would have increased the number of apprehensions. He admitted though that most barangay officials do not put their constituents behind bars for fear of losing votes. 

Escario said the local government files at least two criminal cases against violators of marine environmental laws per month and he hopes to increase it when they get more personnel and equipment to run the Bantay Dagat team.

“You can’t tell them to stop fishing at once. Where else would they go? They will definitely go hungry. Instead, we tell them this: nakakita mo’g starfish diri sa una? Naa di ba? Then we ask their children: Kamo, nakakita pa mo’g starfish sa baybayon? Wala na di ba? We target not their minds or stomachs but their hearts,” he said. (FREEMAN)