ILOILO – Authorities in Iloilo’s 5th District apprehended four fishing boats engaged in illegal fishing during separate seaborne patrol operations on Tuesday, September 16.
At around 4 a.m., members of the Bantay Dagat Task Force and Ajuy Municipal Police Station, led by officer-in-charge (OIC) Captain John Michael P. Dalipe, intercepted two motorized boats — F/B LJM and F/B R.R. — off the waters of Barangay Silagon, Ajuy. Each boat carried two crew members, all residents of the said barangay, who were caught using a prohibited fishing method known as “siklob.”
The suspects also failed to present proper fishing permits when asked by authorities.
Later that day, at around 5:45 p.m., personnel of the San Dionisio Municipal Police Station under the supervision of OIC Captain Ma. Rosela C. Buenvenida apprehended two more motorized boats — F/B Adrian 01 and F/B Adrian 02 — in the waters of Barangay Naborot, San Dionisio. Upon inspection, the boat captains, both local residents, were unable to present the required permits.
The seized motorized boats, along with their fishing gear, are now temporarily impounded at the respective police stations and Bantay Dagat Task Force offices while legal proceedings and penalties are being pursued.
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office, under the strong and dedicated leadership of Colonel Bayani M. Razalan, reiterated its commitment to intensify the campaign against illegal fishing to safeguard and protect the province’s coastal and marine resources./PN
