CEBU, Philippines - Thirty commercial fishers are facing criminal complaints before the prosecutor’s office in Negros Oriental after they were caught allegedly poaching in the waters of Tañon Strait.
At least 12 of those charged with violation of Section 20 of Republic Act 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 were from Cebu.
They were identified as Fredo Escoba, 57; Julito Carriaga, 48; Sidriele Cardona, 32; Niño Sostres, 22; Danny Salud, 27; Sixto Dio, 32; Roque Fajardo, 27; Daryl Abson, 24; Anthony Bilita, 22; Jonas Licanda, 20; Fretz Dumagil, 34; and John Warren Mergal, 45, all from Sta Filomena, Alegria, Cebu. They are crew members of FB San Vicente Ferrer.
The other respondents were the 18 crew members of FB Sto. Nino. They are Florante Jara, Paquito Alpuerto, Gerald Bustamante, Filemon Sardemio, Danilo Jara, Robert Tagonton, Elende Flores, Jim Abreo, Teddy Calumba, Enrico Entera, Jay Baguio, Jerome Caliao, Reynard Mondico, John Carl Balasbas, Bambit Caliora, Peter Calumba, and Reanie Calumba, all from Barangay Camandayon, Jimalalud, Negros Oriental.
The suspects were intercepted during a joint seaborne operation conducted by the DENR-7 operatives in coordination with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7, and the Philippine National Police.
They were allegedly caught in the act of fishing within the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) area.
The law prohibits “hunting, destroying, disturbing, or mere possession of any plants or animals or products derived therefrom without a permit from the Management Board.”
Foresters Percival Fiel, Melchor Rhett Sarmago, and Alvin Bayucot, in a joint affidavit, said the team spotted the two commercial fishing boats within the protected area on September 24 at around 4:00 a.m.
The team confiscated around 15 fish coolers filled with assorted fishes, ropes, battery, one fish net, one sinker, engine, plastic barrel, and fish finder from FB San Vicente Ferrer owned by Escoba.
The operatives narrated that minutes later another illegal fishing vessel FB Sto. Niño owned by Jara was flagged down. Another 15 fish coolers, three ropes, one fishnet, scope net, one empty gallon, and fish finder were seized.
The captains of both fishing vessels failed to present legal documents resulting in their arrest.
Meanwhile, another two fishing vessels were apprehended during an operation conducted last October 10.
The vessels were illegally fishing along the coast of Barangay Zaragosa, Badian, Cebu and along the coast of Barangay Bulado, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
DENR-7 director Isabelo Montejo said they are still collating documents and evidence to support the filing of appropriate charges in court.
“Our team is still preparing all the needed documents for the filing of case for these offenders, we will file the case maybe by next week,” said Montejo.
Montejo has instructed all DENR enforcement division staff along with protected areas superintendents and all protected area rangers to conduct a regular monitoring and surveillance operation on illegal fishing activities in the region.
He also added that more operations will be conducted in various illegal fishing hotspots especially within the marine protected areas in the region.
The TSPS, which lies between the islands Negros and Cebu and covers 521,018 hectares and borders 677 kilometers, is among the country’s top 10 major fishing grounds where about 26,000 fishers operate.
It has also been regarded as an important migration corridor for whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals, making it a preferred destination for whale-watchers, conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts.
The TSPS was declared a protected seascape by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1234 signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos last May 27, 1998 in recognition of its extraordinary abundance and diverse assemblage of dolphins, whales and other marine species.
Any person found guilty of violating such provision shall be fined not more than P500,000 exclusive of the value of the damage or imprisonment for not more than six years, or both, as determined by the court. — (FREEMAN)