TF, PNP need to work together

THE provincial task force against illegal fishing should coordinate with the police in conducting operations.

This was stressed by Cebu Police Director Patrocinio Comendador when asked by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to comment on the allegation that the Carmen police did not help the anti-illegal fishing task force when it conducted an operation that led to the confiscation of several boxes of illegally caught fish last month.

Comendador said the task force can send him a text next time they have an operation so he can inform the concerned police stations.

In a report to Garcia through task force coordinator Jose Ma. Gastardo, Joeffrey Merencillo said the Carmen Police Station did not help them during the July 23 operation.

Disappeared

The task force also reported that two boxes of fish that were part of the confiscated items during the operation disappeared after these were turned over to the Danao City Police Station for safekeeping.

Comendador said he had assured the governor that there would be “enhanced communication” between the police and the task force.

He said evidence should be properly turned over by the task force and that there should be a record on who received the seized items.

Merencillo, in his report, said that his team apprehended three fish cars near the Danao City fish port.

Fish

Seized were five boxes of mixed tuloy (sardines) and mangsi (herring) and another three boxes of assorted reef fish.

After documenting the operation, they decided to have lunch. They brought the fish to the police station on the “presumption that the PNP police station was the safest place.”

When they returned, Merencillo said, they found that the three boxes were opened and half-empty.

He said no one at the police station could explain what happened.