Sunday, April 30, 2006
Illegal fishing arrests continue
The fight against illegal fishing in Cebu may have lost an ardent crusader upon the death of Elpidio “Jojo” dela Victoria, but the campaign continues.
Separate arrests against illegal fishers were made in Madridejos and Pilar last Saturday.
In Madridejos town in northern Cebu, a Bantay Dagat sea patrol led by Eddie dela Cerna, PO1 Windel Pestino and PO1 Antonio Reyco arrested 12 men aboard a commercial fishing boat at 6:57 a.m.
Arrested were boat captain Mario Santillan, mechanic Dominic Apawani, and crewmembers Arnel Yaon, Lito Palma, Frenly Vilaceran, Teddy Cristobal Santillan, Danny Tidoso, Glen Giganto and Antonio Desucatan, all residents of Kabac, Bantayan.
The other crewmembers were a 16-year-old boy, Monec Martes and Edwin Abellanosa, all of Madridejos.
They were caught fishing using active gear 7.39 nautical miles from Tangigue Islet in Madridejos.
Pilar arrest
Also, Pilar deputized fish warden George Catayla, Councilor Jolly Ariel Zarco and SPO3 Eleazar Arellano caught the crew of SB Magdalena at 2 a.m. Saturday.
Arrested were boat captain Benedicto Miroy Alan, 36, of Albuera, Leyte; boat scanner operator Ricky Rica Balinas, 33, of Sonog, San Francisco, Camotes; and master swimmer Reynaldo Zamora Avila, 39, of San Pedro, Albuera, Leyte.
They had 25 crewmembers but they were not brought to shore.
A report submitted to the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) stated the crew was caught fishing .7 kilometers away from the shoreline using active fishing gear.
Dela Victoria’s death brought about pledges from the different Bantay Dagat chapters to continue his advocacy against illegal fishing.
Task Force Jojo, the police team tasked to investigate his murder, is looking into dela Victoria’s job as Cebu City market administrator and Cebu City Bantay Dagat project director as a motive for the killing.
Dela Victoria was shot last April 12 at the gate of his house in Ramona Village, Sitio Dawis, Barangay San Roque, Talisay City.
He died in the hospital the next day.
The suspected gunman, SPO1 Marcial Ocampo was arrested five days after the attack. He has been charged with murder. (MEA)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 30, 2006 issue)
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