Sixteen arrested for illegal fishing in Panay

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Sixteen more persons were arrested in four separate operations by Bantay Dagat personnel and police on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 14, for illegal fishing activities in the municipal waters of Panay, Capiz.

In the first operation, authorities arrested “Henry,” 57, a boat captain, along with his crew members “Robert,” 50; “Darwin,” 26; and “Keven,” 24, all residents of Barangay Olotayan, Roxas City.

The second operation resulted in the arrest of “Dioleto,” 69, also a boat captain, and his crew members “Roy,” 36; “Edwin,” 44; “Roel,” 48; “Reynald,” 35; and “Rene,” 42, all residents of Poblacion, Pilar.

In the third operation, authorities arrested “Jude,” 41, and his crew members “Efren,” 37, and “Joshua,” 23, all residents of Barangay Barra, Roxas City.

Meanwhile, the fourth operation led to the arrest of “Armando,” 49, a boat captain, and his crew members “Christian,” 26, and “Glenn,” 36, all residents of Barangay Barra, Roxas City.

Authorities seized four fishing boats valued at PHP 550,000, seven diesel engines worth PHP 120,000, fishing nets and gear valued at PHP 167,000, and about 85 kilograms of assorted fish worth PHP 19,000, for a total estimated value of PHP 856,000.

The confiscated items were turned over to the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office of the Panay local government unit for proper disposition.

The arrested individuals will be charged with violating Municipal Ordinance No. 03-02, or the Municipal Fishery Code, Series of 2003.

Earlier, joint law enforcement units in Ivisan arrested seven individuals during two separate anti-illegal fishing operations on Monday night, Jan. 12, in the municipal waters off Barangay Balaring, also for violations of the same ordinance.