After apprehending illegal fishers: Marine watchman thrown into sea?

CEBU, Philippines - A member of the Cordova Marine Watch is missing and is believed to have been thrown into the sea by two men arrested for illegal fishing off the waters of the town Monday night.

Cordova Police Chief, Sr. Insp. Felix Pacaldo identified the missing watchman as Rudy Sultan, 50, a resident of barangay Poblacion, Cordova.

Policemen and fishermen were still scouring the waters as of yesterday afternoon looking for any sign of Sultan.

Pacaldo said that the members of the Cordova Marine Watch were conducting a routine patrol Monday evening when they noticed fishermen on board three pump boats in the area.

The Marine Watchmen headed by PO2 Charlie Valmoria accompanied by Roseler Canete, Amad Inting, Chester Sosias, and Sultan approached the group and apprehended them.

One of the three boats was, however, able to elude arrest, while the two others were held.

Those arrested were identified as Noel Lastimada, 35, Ruben Beyaya, 35, Luis Fernandez and Dongcoy Yongco, all of barangay Pooc, Talisay City.

After their arrest, Pacaldo said Valmoria instructed Sultan to escort the boat used by Fernandez and Yongco while he and other companions escorted the pump boat used by Lastimada and Biduya.

Only Valmoria and his companions as well as those they arrested arrived in barangay Day-as, while the boat escorted by Sultan never made it.

The marine watchmen went to nearby barangays to check if the other boat made it there, but were told they were not there.

The Cordova Police then did a follow up operation in barangay Pooc, Talisay City and found the missing boat.

Residents of barangay Pooc told the police that they saw Fernandez and Yongco, but the two hurriedly left the place after they got back from the sea.

Police found bloodstains inside the boat.

GOVERNOR TO TAKE ACTION

This recent blow to the campaign against illegal fishing, which Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has strongly pushed, has irked the chief executive of the province.

Garcia said that she is determined to help in filing the cases against those responsible.

“Ako mismo motabang ko’g file anang kaso kontra anang mga ilegal fishers,” Garcia told reporters yesterday.

Garcia said that she is now thinking of making an inventory of all Bantay Dagat members that are duly accredited by concerned local government units and to extend to them accident insurance.

Capitol is providing accident insurance to the elements of the National Bureau of Investigation as well as the Capitol employees by paying premium with the Government Service Insurance System.

Only recently, Garcia pushed an all-out effort against illegal fishing and has encouraged all local government units including Cebu City to join this campaign.

POLICE AUGMENTATION

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Erson Digal plans to provide additional policemen to the Cordova Police Station.

Digal said that the additional personnel can help the marine watch arrest the illegal fishers.

“Usually sa illegal fishers nga gikan sa Talisay anha man jud sa Cordova mangisda,” he said.

Digal already directed Sr. Insp. Pacaldo to coordinate with the rescuers and the Naval Forces Central (Navforcen) in their search and rescue operation.

Lawyer Tony Oposa of the Visayas Sea Squadron told The Freeman that he will call on the Coast Guard and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to coordinate and exert effort to look into the circumstances behind the missing person. —with Gregg M. Rubio and Ria Booc/NLQ (FREEMAN)