Bantay Dagat members who seized 100 banyeras of fish to get award

CEBU, Philippines – Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will give an award today to the members of Bantay Dagat who intercepted a vessel engaged in illegal fishing in Barangay Bolinawan, Carcar last week.

"The people who did their duty should be rewarded to encourage all "Bantay Dagat" (personnel) to do their job," the governor said.

Garcia will award cash incentives to the members of the team at midday today.

With the help of the police, the members of the Bantay Dagat confiscated an estimated 100 basins or "banyeras" containing "bilong-bilong" fish.

The arrest of 15 men on board the commercial fishing vessel "Mark San Pedro" and the motor boat "Mercedel Ann" came after Garcia created a task force tasked to go after those involved in illegal fishing. The task force is composed of representatives from law enforcement agencies. 

Meanwhile, formal charges were filed against the owner and captain of commercial vessel and a motor boat before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor yesterday.

Alex Zamora, owner, and James Gonzaga, the boat's captain, are facing charges for violation of Section 90 of Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. The law prohibits commercial fishing within the 15-kilometers municipal water limits.

As mandated by law, only the owner and captain of the vessel may be charged. The rest of the crew has been released. (FREEMAN)