15 illegal fishermen caught in San Remigio

CEBU, Philippines - Fifteen fishermen were arrested and detained after Bantay Dagat officials caught them fishing within the municipal waters of San Remigio shortly before midnight yesterday.

Jimmy Almohalias, 42, the boat captain, and his 14 crew were reportedly fishing at least six kilometers from the shore of sitio Mancao, Barangay Anapog, which violated the 15-kilometer distance.

Randy Teano, San Remigio Bantay Dagat ranger, said they conducted another anti-commercial fishing operation in the seawaters of the town last Friday night where they swooped down on the suspects.

“Rampant man gud ang illegal fishing diri sa San Remigio,” he told The FREEMAN.

It was around 9 p.m., he said, when they spotted three pumpboats engaging in dynamite fishing within the 15-kilometer distance which they locally call as “palukso.” They call the other modes for dynamite fishing as “palagitik” and “sapyaw.”

They were prompted to approach the boats, which then sailed hastily, most possibly sensing their presence.

“Nagginukdanay mi kapin sa oras. Wala gyud namo sila madakpi kay paspas kaayo. Among patrol boat kay four cylinder ra gud, ang ilaha six cylinder,” Taneo lamented. (We chased them for an hour but our boat was not fast enough.)

On their way back after losing sight of the boats, Taneo said they spotted another fishing boat 6.4 kilometers away from the shore of sitio Mancao. Taneo said they have a Global Positioning System that measures the distance.

Taneo said there were five of them in the Bantay Dagat team. They asked for back-up and approached the boat, with a name Prewl or Mansoria, and arrested the suspects.

The fishermen did not resist arrest, he said. They were from Bantayan Island, he added.

The suspects are currently detained while waiting for possible charges which they will face tomorrow (Monday), that is, Taneo said, if the police station chief will charge them for violating Republic Act 8550 or The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

“Kay kasagaran man gud muhangyo ra na sila nga iagi lang sa ordinansa ilang violation,” he said.

Taneo said the Provincial Government should let these violators be punished under the law.

“Para masugpo na gyud ba. Kay kun ordinansa ra ang tendency magsalig man gud ni sila,” he said. (FREEMAN)