[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Iloilo Bantay Dagat, Banias get threats ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
ILOILO – Provincial Administrator Raul Banias and the team leader of the Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force both received threatening text messages from unidentified senders.
The threats may likely be due to the provincial government’s intensified campaign against illegal fishing most especially in northern Iloilo, said Banias.
Banias received a threatening text message on Aug. 1. He immediately alerted Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba.
On the other hand, Bantay Dagat head Senior Police Officer 2 Jose Ronie Panes received a threat after their operation in Carles town on Aug.4.
The text message read: “Sarge, halong ka gid nabayaran na ulo mo sa taga babaw mahanot sa imo taga-Masbate”.
Banias said the IPPO has been asked to validate the threats.
“Gina-assume namon, resulta ini sang amon wala untat nga pangampanya to eliminate illegal fishing, especially ining commercial fishing and specifically ang operation sang gin-ban sa bilog nga Pilipinas nga super-hulbot (modified Danish seine),” said Banias.
The Provincial Administrator said the Bantay Dagat won’t be cowed by threats and its operations against illegal fishing will continue.
He recalled similar threats four years ago. Those came from super-hulbot operators, he said.
“They will do everything to stop our campaign. Every week, the Bantay Dagat apprehends illegal fishers,” said Banias.
According to Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., most of the illegal fishers that Bantay Dagat apprehended were from neighboring provinces like Masbate, Cebu, Negros Occidental, and Capiz.
“Many fishermen, even from other provinces, are attracted to our rich fishing grounds. Sadly, some use illegal fishing methods such as destructive trawls or setting off dynamites,” said Defensor.
The governor admitted that Bantay Dagat could not totally stop illegal fishing activities in Iloilo’s vast territorial waters all by itself.
“From San Joaquin in southern Iloilo to Carles in the north – that’s the area our Bantay Dagat has to guard,” said Defensor.
Bantay Dagat has seven patrol boats guarding Iloilo’s rich fishing grounds.
Defensor urged other concerned agencies to do their share in protecting Iloilo’s waters such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine National Police’s Maritime Group.
“We can’t apprehend illegal fishers if they’re already outside our territorial waters. The BFAR and Maritime Group can help in this regard,” Defensor told provincial capitol reporters.
The Bantay Dagat has an annual budget of P7.5 million. The big chunk of this is for the maintenance of its equipment and fuel for its seven boats’ operation./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
