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Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Fisherman loses arm, ear in blast fishing in Cordova
A dynamite fisherman lost his right hand and right ear in Barangay Poblacion, Cordova, Mactan Island in Cebu last Sunday, even as the Visayan Squadron said the place is a critical area for dynamite fishing.
Marcelo Guevarra reportedly engages in blast fishing.
The incident followed the one last July 11, when Ricardo Abaño lost his right forearm while using dynamite in fishing off Caubian Island, Lapu-Lapu City.
Lawyer Antonio Oposa, team leader of the Visayan Sea Squadron, said Caubian Island is known for dynamite fishing.
He said the Visayan Sea Squadron is now focusing on four major dynamite fishing “hotspots.” These are Kinatarkan Island in Sta. Fe town, Barangays Lipayran and Hilutungan in Bantayan town, and Carles town in the northernmost tip of Iloilo.
Investigation
Oposa said local officials should answer for the illegal fishing in the area as it happened right under their noses.
Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Mario Amores said he will urge the City Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (Cfarmc) to investigate the Caubian incident.
Amores believes that through Cfarmc they can get relevant information they can use against illegal fishing.
Caubian Island is 45 minutes to an hour pump boat ride away from Lapu-Lapu City. Amores said the island’s distance from the mainland city and the deeply-rooted practice of dynamite fishing make it hard for them to enforce the law there.
He said Cfarmc regularly visits the place. They just made a dive there last week.
Amores is the chairman of the City Council’s environment committee.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Visayan Squadron striking force raided these areas and arrested suspects and confiscated explosives.
Last April, the NBI raided Caubian Island and took into custody Virgilio Amorin Sr., 59; his son Virgilio Jr., 28; a 14-year-old boy and Reynaldo Lumapas, 41.
Dynamite
The NBI confiscated sacks of ammonium nitrate and ready-to-use dynamite sticks from the suspects. The four are facing charges for violation of the Fisheries Code.
The NBI also raided Hilutungan Island last May and seized from the house of Barangay Captain Alexander Paclibar bags of ammonium nitrate. They filed charges against the official, who remains at large. (OCP)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 18, 2006 issue)
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