A COUPLE of months ago, I featured in this column the sad plight of the Masantol fishermen who were apprehended and detained in Bataan for alleged illegal fishing.

The Bantay Dagat of that province is admirable for its keen eye on fishermen alleged to be trespassing the waters of that peninsula only if such allegation that the subject fishermen went beyond their limits.

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Last month, the fishermen who were held in detention by Bataan policemen were released perhaps on bail, payment of fines and penalties or through negotiations. How it was is immaterial. At least they are now free from restraint of their liberty. Like fishes fished out of the water, they were put behind bars for a number of weeks with the confiscation of their fishing boats and other fishing implements.

Their experiences were pitiful. I know a few who lost their pounds of their weight. Their livelihood activities were put to a halt. Families waited and worried. Worse, when their fishing boats were returned to them, their once sturdy workhorses of the sea suffered damages. The engines of their boats were cannibalized. Their fishing nets torn. Their fishing paraphernalia missing. Should not pieces of evidence be kept intact and untouched?

Pieces of information were ripe that people of Masantol have frequent sightings of Bataan fisherfolks illegally fishing in the Masantol area. If substantiated, they are the ones who should really be caught in the net for poaching.

If I may remember it right, a Bantay Dagat Program was then proposed in the provincial capitol. Since the issue on the fishermen of Masantol is not that "hot" as it is then, the program perhaps settled down under the Pampanga river, into the Manila Bay together with the advocacies of protecting Kapampangan fishermen and providing for their welfare.

While these poor fishermen were incarcerated, came to the rescue Marcelo "Bajun" Lacap, Jr., the hyperactive Vice-Mayor of Masantol. Along with other officials of the town, he was unstoppable in trying to look for a speedy solution to the problems of his kabalens. He instantly became the negotiator, fiscalizer, mediator and diplomat.

VM Bajun rose from the ranks. From his humble beginnings as a Punong Barangay then for nine years of Barangay Sagrada Familia in that town, he became a municipal councilor in 1998 until his election as a Vice-Mayor to this date.

His being an elected official is worth to his care to his constituents especially the oppressed. His high level of experience has proved his diplomatic prowess in dealing with such situations trying to find out for win-win solutions.

During the fishermen's ordeal, VM Bajun never stopped for finding ways in rescuing his hapless townmates. Being with the grassroots, he understood and felt the experience of being out to the wild waters, be apprehended and held captive by armed authorities. VM Bajun went out, went wild and caught attention of those who helped soften the situation.

As a leader, he is well aware of those who need to be protected and be given help. He lost no time in negotiating and imploring Bataan authorities trying to "redeem" the folks of his fishing hometown. His endless efforts and labor bore fruits anyway by winning liberty for those who were caught by the net of the apprehending lawmen.

Fishermen in our country, like farmers, are so poor that they are deemed as "isang-kahig-isang-tuka." They brave the raging waters, burn their skin with the sun's heat, and drain themselves the energy in order to have some catch to feed their families, not to mention the dangers of being adrift in the open sea or having the sad fate of not coming back again to their homes.

Our country is an archipelago and that means we are surrounded by waters. Fishing is one of the oldest forms of livelihood and means of survival to life.

Fishing inputs are most often higher than the output of most fishermen's catch. If lucky, they can sell their yield to the market and not merely bringing home the "pang-ulam."

Bouncing back to Bajun, Masantolenos are fortunate for having an active leader in their Vice-Mayor. His public appearances would prove his dynamism. While his jolly jeers to his friends lighten up daily stresses, I find him serious to the serving the people he took an oath to serve. He manages problems and infuses solutions. He is always believed, not because of his "Mr. Suwabe" bigote, but because of his convictions of giving truth to his words.

For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod.

(November 19, 2008 issue)
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