Illegal fishermen shoot policeman, fish wardens

CEBU, Philippines - A group of fishermen who were caught fishing inside a marine protected area shot at a policeman and fish wardens who were patrolling the seas off Alcoy, southern Cebu last Wednesday at around 11:00 p.m.

SPO1 Primitivo Miraflor Carungay of Alcoy Police Station and civilian fish wardens Panfilo Carungay and Danilo Canulasan conducted a seaborne patrol at the municipal seawaters when they spotted a group of men fishing inside the town’s sanctuary.

The team observed the group of fishermen and found that they were using a compressor machine, which is illegal.

The team then went near the men with the intention of apprehending them. However, upon sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the still unidentified illegal fishermen shot SPO1 Carungay.

The policeman fired back using his government-issued M16 rifle.

But the fishermen managed to escape on their motorized boat towards Bohol. One of them is believed to be wounded.

The police are still conducting a follow-up operation on the incident.

Meanwhile, early the following morning, SPO1 Carungay and his team again patrolled the seawaters of Alcoy.

Upon reaching the Atabay reef, they spotted a fishing boat at the area. They checked and were surprised to see that the boat was unmanned and abandoned.

They found from the boat a compressor tank, five rolls of green hose, four ice buckets, four spear guns, two pails, two containers and paddles, 18 pieces of “Tubli” and 10 kilos of assorted fish estimated to be worth P1,500.

Tubli is a low bush known to be used as fish poison and is illegal.

In a separate incident, a fisherman was reported missing while fishing off barangay Dapdap, Pilar, Cebu last Thursday afternoon.

Susan Cañete, principal of Pilar Central School and the cousin of the victim, reported to the Pilar Police Station that her cousin did not return home after fishing.

Vivencio Collano, 50, left his house at about 12:00 noon that day and remains missing.

Noel Garciano and Berto Merino, who were guarding the fish sanctuary at barangay Dapdap, said they discovered Collano’s boat floating at the area at about 1 o’clock in the afternoon that day but Collano was nowhere to be seen. — /JPM (FREEMAN)