3 fishermen caught fishing in sanctuary

CEBU, Philippines - Three fishermen were arrested after they were caught fishing in a sanctuary at Tañon Strait, a protected seascape, in Bantayan Island on Friday.

Personnel of Bantayan Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council arrested Eugenio Ortoguesa, 27; Noven Piañar, 38; and Reynaldo Aragon, 50. The three fishermen are from Barangay Tacop, San Remigio town.

MFARMC personnel Glecerio Villaceran, Lino Fernandez, and Juan Villaceran conducted seaborne patrol in the island on Friday dawn after learning from local fishermen that their fellow fishers from the neighboring towns would fish at Bantayan’s sanctuary.

At about 3 a.m. on Friday, they reportedly saw a pump boat at the sanctuary which appeared to be fishing in the area.

They approached the boat and saw Ortoguesa, Piañar, and Aragon onboard.

The sea patrollers have confirmed that the three were fishing in the sanctuary, prompting them to execute the arrest.

Aside from the pump boat, fish nets, an ice box, and more than 50 kilograms of assorted fish were seized from the three.

The MFARMC personnel turned over the suspects to the police while the boat and other fishing items are in their custody.

The suspects will be charged for violating Section 101 of the amended Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 or for fishing in “Marine Protected Areas, Fishery Reserves, Refuge and Sanctuaries.” — Bryner L. Diaz/NSA (FREEMAN)