Illegal fishers nabbed in Samboan

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force (CPAIFTF)’s efforts to strengthen their operations in the seawaters of southern Cebu has earned them good results as they apprehended the crew of a commercial fishing boat in the seawaters of Samboan.

The Team Pukot of CPAIFTF has conducted seaborne activities for two days in the seawaters from Dalaguete to Samboan last Sunday and Monday in time for the long weekend.

CPAIFTF field team coordinator Joefrey Merencillo said that they conducted deterent activities against commercial fishing vessels from Bohol and Negros Oriental as well as local fishing boats doing illegal fishing within municipal waters.

Merencillo said they received intelligence reports that because of their presence, some fishing boats in the southeastern area aborted their plan to enter municipal waters.

At around 3:00 in the morning last Monday, their sources alerted them that commercial fishers were in Samboan waters.

Immediately they proceeded to the area and chanced upon three fishing boats doing actual fishing operation but only caught one fishing boat, F/B Ocean Green, which is owned and operated by Green Ray Corporation in Samboan.

The boat and its apprehended crew of 11, including boat captain and mechanic, were then turned over to the local government of Samboan for proper disposition and filing of appropriate charges.

The crew were identified as boat captain Levi Zafran, mechanic Jose Bacuol, Jay-r Montesclaros, Marino Taw-taw, Randay Patalog, Joel Cerna, Rabadon Loud, Jose Cabual, Joel Raganas, Ariel Gubato and Jose Bacud, all of Negros Oriental province.

Yesterday, a group of fisherfolk trooped to the office of Mayor Raymond Joseph Calderon reportedly to air their complaints against CPAIFTF.

Calderon told The Freeman that the fisherfolk did not complain but asked him to facilitate a dialogue with Capitol’s task force.

“Nihangyo sila nga makig-dialogue aron pasabton sila sa mga patakaran at least makahibawo sila kung unsay angay buhaton, (They asked for a dialogue so that they will know the rules and what they should do.)” Calderon said.

Calderon said that he already forwarded the request of the fisherfolk to the CPAIFTF and will just wait for the schedule.   - THE FREEMAN