BY JEN BAYLON
ILOILO – Authorities from the provinces of Antique and Capiz recently apprehended nine individuals caught engaging in illegal fishing activities.
A joint operation conducted by the Anini-y Municipal Police Station (MPS), Bantay Dagat-Anini-y, and the Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO) led to the arrest of seven persons for violating the Municipal Fishery Law of Anini-y in relation to Republic Act 10654 (Illegal Fishing).
Rey Fedelicio, boat captain of F/B Zaldianne, 46, and a resident of Barangay San Angel, San Jose, Antique, along with his six crew members, were caught in the act in Anini-y town’s Barangay Iba at around 3:55 a.m. yesterday, March 5, approximately 0.901 nautical miles off the coast.
Authorities seized approximately 125 kilograms of tulingan or aloy with an estimated market value of P10,000, as well as fishing paraphernalia valued at approximately P2,000,000.
The individuals, along with the confiscated evidence, were brought to the Anini-y MPS for documentation and subsequently forwarded to the MAO for proper disposition.
In Capiz, authorities apprehended two fishermen off the coastal waters of Barangay Poblacion Ilaya, Panay.
The apprehended individuals were residents of Barangay Casanayan, Pilar, Capiz, based on information from the Panay Municipal Police Station.
Among the confiscated items during the operation on Sunday, March 3, were a pump boat valued at P150,000, two 20-horsepower diesel motor engines with a total value of P30,000, a fishing net worth P250,000, approximately 25 kilograms of lampirong or windowpane oyster, and 10 kilograms of assorted fish with a total market value of P435,000.
The confiscated items were placed under the custody of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office in Panay for proper disposition./PN
