Seized shells eyed for school tourism

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government is eyeing at donating the truckload of helmet shells or “budyong” it confiscated Sunday to schools or returning them to sea.

Loy Madrigal, chief of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force, said the shells can be used for educational purposes if donated to schools but they can also become a dive attraction if returned to sea and can even house small species of fish.

“They were already checked by the (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and they are still in our custody for safekeeping. But we are thinking of giving these to the schools for their museums or libraries or drop them back to the ocean to be made into an underwater attraction or structures for the fish,” Madrigal said.

For now, the shells remain under the custody of the provincial government while a decision has not yet been made, Madrigal added.

The shells are still inside the Elf truck that carried them when intercepted last Sunday. The truck is parked at the Capitol compound.

Madrigal said fishermen were caught in the act of transferring the shells from the pump boat into the Elf truck, which led to their arrest.

PAIFTF personnel confiscated the endangered species from at least 10 fishermen at the Roro Port in Barangay Maya, Daanbantayan.

The fishermen along with the boat captain, Alison Batahoy, are now facing a criminal case for alleged violation of Section 97 of the Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code.

The owner of the truck, Enrique Borromeo of Estancia, Mandaue City, and Antonio Batahoy, the owner of the pump boat, are also facing the charges. They are both at large.  (FREEMAN)