4 face raps for illegal fishing

CEBU, Philippines - For refusing to pay the fine for fishing illegaly, the municipality of San Francisco, Cebu has filed a criminal complaint against four fishermen for violating a town ordinance against illegal fishing.

Municipal Agriculture Officer Dulcesima Maramba said Arman Linaso,35; Rezon Jaron, 34; Sherwin Hortelano, 25 and Lito Jaron 35, all residents of Barangay Heminsulan, San Francisco violated municipal ordinance No. 2006-041.

“The above-named respondents without any permit and not authorized by law did, then and there, willfully, unlawfully and feloniously caught in the act of fishing by the used of compressor within the municipal seawaters of San Francisco,” the complaint reads.

The four allegedly committed the crime on August 9, 2013 at about 1:30 a.m. in Barangay Heminsulan.

In a joint-affidavit, SPO1 Jose Argallon, PO2 Reynaldo Tañica and PO2 Dave Agustinez of the San Francisco Police Station said they were on “seaborne patrol” in the seawaters of Barangays Consuelo and Heminsulan at 12:10 a.m. on August 9, 2013 when a motorized boat with fishermen using a compressor locally known as “boso” caught their attention.

The policemen got near the boat and arrested the fishermen.

Seized from the respondents were a compressor, four improvised spears, two flashlights, a hose estimated to be 50 years long, eight kilos of assorted fish, and four pedal pads. The motorized boat was also seized. The fishermen were then brought to the police station for investigation. After which, the policemen coordinated with Maramba for appropriate action.

“That municipal agriculture officer Maramba recommended to the arrested persons to pay the fine imposed in the municipal ordinance, upon which those arrested persons promise to pay but later refused, prompting Maramba to file a criminal complaint against the herein suspects,” the joint-affidavit read.  (FREEMAN)