Blasted fish from Mindanao seized in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines - Operatives of the Cebu City Bantay Dagat Task Force yesterday seized about 740 kilos of blasted fish from Mindanao.

The shipment was consigned to Marcelina “Nene” Surigao, one of the fish dealers at the Pasil Fish Market. Bantay Dagat Task Force commander Ranulfo Sebusa said they will invite Surigao to appear before his office tomorrow. The illegal fish shipment has an estimated value between P74,000 to P150,000.

Sebusa said the task force is meeting tomorrow to decide whether or not criminal charges will be filed against the consignee.

According to Sebusa, selling and possession of dynamited fish is prohibited under the Republic Act 8550 otherwise known as the Fishery Code of the Philippines. Sebusa said that some illegal fishers from Mindanao are using the southern towns of Cebu as gateway to Cebu City instead of the inter-island vessels because they knew that Bantay Dagat operatives are closely monitoring the vessels from Mindanao.

“Among nahibaw-an nga didto nila gidonggo ang mga isda sa southern town unya gikarga na lang og sakyanan paingon dinhi sa siyudad (we learned that they entered through a southern town and transported the fish to the city),” Sebusa said.

The shipment was intercepted by the task force operatives on a checkpoint. A fish examiner from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) confirmed that the assorted fish products were blasted.

The seized products were donated to the various charitable institutions in the city. — (FREEMAN)