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Friday, April 14, 2006
Attack on dela Victoria tied to Visayan Seas campaign
THE attack on Elpidio dela Victoria may have something to do with the Cebu City official’s role in a campaign to save the Visayan seas, police and his colleagues suspect.
Environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa said that he and dela Victoria received death threats following the campaign to ban commercial fishing operators from the Visayan seas.
An officemate of dela Victoria, who declined to be named, said the official’s participation drew the ire of some illegal commercial fishermen, whom he believes were behind the attempt.
Last April 6, dela Victoria, the Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission director and concurrent market administrator, told Sun.Star Superbalita of the threat to his life and of Oposa.
He revealed that some big-time commercial fishermen whose business have been affected by the ban have pooled P1 million to have them killed.
However, it was not de la Victoria who spearheaded the closing of the Visayan seas to commercial fishing.
De la Victoria clarified earlier that commercial fishing boats can still fish in the seas off Iloilo and Masbate, which are part of the Visayan Marine Triangle, pending the approval of the petition.
Last February, the Visayan Seas Squadron (VSS) sent a petition to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources declaring the Visayan seas closed to commercial fishing.
Opposa, who is not Cebu right now, said that despite the attack, the ban will still be strictly enforced. Opposa is the team leader of the VSS.
Supt. Pablo Labra, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau, said they will coordinate with the Talisay police in investigating the attack. OCP/VLM of Superbalita
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 13, 2006 issue)
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