14 fall for illegal fishing in Tuburan

CEBU, Philippines - Police and Bantay Dagat members of Tuburan town arrested at least 14 people who were caught fishing in Tañon Strait off Tuburan town Saturday dawn. 

The arrested persons, who were allegedly fishing in the seas of Kamingawan, Tañon Strait of Tuburan town, were from Bantayan Island, Cebu and Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.

According to Police Officer 3 Douglas Maravillas of Tuburan Police Station, the arrested persons were onboard F/B Genevieve 3, with their captain Amado Segovia, 43, of Cadiz City in Negros Occidental.

Maravillas said at around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, the policemen, together with Bantay Dagat personnel, were patrolling Tañon Strait, when they noticed the boat.

The authorities approached the boat and found out that the fishermen did not have any permit from the local government of Tuburan to fish.

The fishermen were also caught using the trawling method to fish, which is prohibited in the town.

The police recovered from the fishermen 15 buckets of various kinds of fish amounting to P15,000.

Maravillas, though, said the arrested persons were then released after they were able to pay the fine of P250,000 for violating the municipal ordinance in Tuburan town.  (FREEMAN)