Task force seizes dynamited fish

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force (CPAIFTF) scored another accomplishment as they seized 25 boxes of “dynamited” sardines, locally called as “tamban tuloy,” from two hired trucks in Liloan town yesterday.

Jeofrey Merencillo, field team coordinator of the CPAIFTF, said the illegally caught fish amounted to P37,000 as each box, weighing 40 to 45 kilos, estimated to cost P1,500.

Merencillo said they positioned themselves along Barangay Cotcot, Liloan town yesterday after receiving a tip from a resident in Bogo City about a truck which carried boxes of fish.

Merencillo said they actually flagged down eight fish-carrying trucks yesterday. He said the second and seventh truck apprehended contained illegally caught fish.

Personnel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-7, who were with the CPAIFTF, conducted random sampling on each box and found that some of the fish were “dynamited”.

Merencillo said the trucks, with plate numbers GXE-511 and GXR-338, were driven by Delfin Noynay and Rolando Tumabini, respectively, who claimed they were not aware that they were transporting illegal goods.

He said the fish were supposed to be delivered to the Pasil Market in Cebu City.

They transported the fish from Barangays Mahawak and Kawit in Medellin town, three hours before they were apprehended.

One of the trucks was loaded with 40 boxes of the fish, 15 of which contained dynamited fish. The other one contained 30 boxes of fish, 10 of which contained dynamited fish, Merencillo said.

The BFAR-7 found blood clotting in the internal organs of the fish.

Merencillo said they are coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation-7 to trace the dealers of the fish, but it is usually hard to trace them because they do not use their real names.

As of yesterday, the drivers were released, Merencillo said, citing that the law spares the drivers. The confiscated fish were already distributed to orphanages and penal institutions, among others, Merencillo said.

He said they also plan to share the fish to fire victims in Carreta, Cebu City.  (FREEMAN)