Two women caught with corals charged

CEBU, Philippines - The police of Lapu-Lapu City will file charges against the two women who were arrested Wednesday afternoon after getting caught Monday packing corals in sitio Bout, barangay Punta Engaño, in violation of RA 8550, also known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

Task Force Kalikasan member PO1 Christian D. Ando said Irenea Pagobo, 47, and Cherry Mae Inoc, 20, who are now detained could spend 12 to 20 years in jail if found guilty.

The police immediately went to barangay Punta Engaño after receiving information from a concerned citizen at 1:30 p.m.

The women claimed they were hired at P80 a day to pack the corals and that they didn’t know the identity of the person who hired them.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will still continue the inventory of the assorted corals. Initial reports revealed the assorted corals were categorized as Brain, Finger, Cactus, and Branch.

“For those people who are doing this, please stop it because corals will grow only after many years,” Ando said in Cebuano.

He also said they found fish eggs in the corals.

The corals will be temporarily placed at the Mactan Recovery Facility in barangay Soong, Lapu-Lapu City.

Ando said students may use the corals for academic purposes. (FREEMAN)